Disclaimer: I own nothing that isn't mine, J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers do.
A/N: It's at the bottom and I know most people don't read these, but please do, I make an important announcement.
Part 7: Chapters 26-29
Chapter 26
Hermione woke up and looked around her room groggily. She saw Lavender still fast asleep and heard the rain beating down on the skylight. She looked over to her bedside table, where the illuminated clock face showed her that the time was 4:45 AM. The wedding would start in roughly five hours. Hermione decided not to go back to sleep, so she got up and tied her bathrobe around her waist. She made her bed and straightened up the room a little before getting her dress out and laying it on her bed. She went into the bathroom and stepped into the shower. She felt the hot water run over her and just stood there in the shower for a while. When Hermione got out of the shower, she saw the clock read 6:02 AM, so she decided to go down stairs and have breakfast. She went about making tea, and replayed images from last night. Harry has said he loved her. Hermione had been so stunned, and so happy. She didn't know what to do, so she just stood there like an idiot with her mouth gaping open. The whistle on the kettle blew, and Hermione made herself some tea. Hermione sat down at the table with her tea, and started to fully wake up.
"Good morning, Mimi," said a voice. Hermione looked up and saw Ron sit down at the table.
"Good Morning, Ron," said Hermione. "Want some tea?"
"Yeah," said Ron. She got up and started making Ron a cup. "What was with you last night? You went from red to white in under ten seconds"
"Nothing," said Hermione. "He just told me he loved me, that's all."
"He did what?" asked Ron. Hermione's face broke into a smile. She handed Ron his tea and sat down.
"Yeah," said Hermione. "That was my reaction, pretty much. I didn't really know what to do, so I just stood there."
"I told him not to say it until we got out of school," said Ron.
"You knew?" asked Hermione.
"Of course I did," said Ron. "I'm his best friend, who else was he supposed to tell. But I guess last night was okay, was the way he did it right?"
"It was perfect," said Hermione. "I'm just an idiot for not saying it back, or anything for that matter. I just wasn't expecting it."
"Hermione, what are you doing down here?" asked Lavender, coming downstairs.
"I'm having some tea," replied Hermione. "You want some? I think the water's still hot, but it wouldn't take long to boil again."
"No, I'm alright," said Lavender. "We have to get ready."
"Now?" asked Hermione. "But I haven't even seen Harry yet."
"He's out like a light," said Ron. "He won't be awake for another hour."
"It's six thirty," said Lavender. "The wedding starts at nine thirty. We have three hours."
"I've already showered," said Hermione. "Minus one hour, so what do I need to do?"
"Your hair," said Lavender. "Your makeup, you need to get dressed, do your nails, a lot."
"We're curling my hair, right?" asked Hermione. "Let's go put my hair in curlers. I can do other things while my hair is drying, right? I'll come back down stairs, and wait for Harry."
"Okay, fine," said Lavender. "But you need to get back in the shower, your hair has to be dripping wet and it has to be completely free of snarls and knots."
"Fine," said Hermione. "I'll see you later, Ron, if I can get away." Hermione followed Lavender back upstairs. She got back in the shower and then went through her hair with a fine toothed comb, making sure it was completely snarl free. Lavender sat Hermione down and put her hair in many, tight curlers, and then put a bag over Hermione's head to keep the moisture in, and started putting something on Hermione's face.
"This is just a little secret of mine," said Lavender. "It's an acne fighting moisturizer."
"But I don't have acne," said Hermione.
"It's so the makeup won't clog your pores," said Lavender.
"But Lavender, I'm not going to be wearing any makeup other then lip gloss," said Hermione.
"Well, it smells really good and makes your skin soft, so humor me," said Lavender.
"Lavender," said Hermione. "I'm going to see Harry now." Hermione put on her bathrobe and walked down to Harry and Ron's room. She knocked on the door, and waited. "Harry?" Hermione opened the door and saw Harry still asleep. He looked so peaceful that Hermione decided not to disturb him, so she turned around and went back to her room.
When Hermione got back to her room, Lavender had her hair in large curlers and was putting on her make up. Hermione closed the door and Lavender turned around.
"There you are," said Lavender. "We have to put this thing on your head." She held up a bag attached to a machine.
"What is it?" asked Hermione.
"It's a hair drier for curlers," said Lavender. "Sit, I'm going to do your make up."
"It's seven fifteen," said Hermione. "The wedding isn't for a few hours."
"I know," said Lavender. "I overslept."
"What?" asked Hermione.
"I know, I know, I'm a horrible person," said Lavender. "But let's try to do this as best we can."
"You overslept?" asked Hermione. "Two hours is plenty of time to get ready, it's more than enough."
"Just put the drier on," said Lavender. Hermione put the bag over her head and Lavender put it on high. Hermione felt a blast of hot air hit her head. "Sit still so that it dries all the way."
"What am I going to do in the meantime?" asked Hermione.
"Do your nails?" asked Lavender. "Read? Think? I don't know, but I have things to do."
"Like…?" asked Hermione.
"Stuff," said Lavender. She put on some jeans and a sweater and left. Hermione sat for a while, thinking, but that didn't keep her occupied, so she did her toes. Just as her nails were drying, Lavender came back.
"Where did you go?" asked Hermione.
"Nowhere," said Lavender, and she did her toes. "Is your hair dry yet?"
"I don't know," said Hermione. Lavender turned off the hair drier and took the bag gently off of Hermione's head.
"No quite," said Lavender. "But it's not supposed to be fried." Lavender gently took Hermione's hair out of the curlers and it fell beautifully down in tight curls. Lavender sprayed Hermione's hair with hairspray, so that it wouldn't fall out of place for the rest of the day. Hermione looked over at the clock and it read 8:36 AM. The wedding was in an hour.
"Imagine how nervous Natasha is right now," said Hermione.
"I know," said Lavender. "I mean he's going to be the father of her children. She probably has her fingers crossed."
"Viktor's a good guy," said Hermione. "And if she knows him at all, she doesn't have her fingers crossed." Hermione sat while Lavender did something with her hair.
"Look," said Lavender. Hermione looked in the mirror. The hair that usually hung down by her face was pulled loosely back and held with a clip.
"I don't like it," said Hermione. "I'm going to do my hair my own way." Hermione went into the bathroom and stuck her head under the sink. She half dried it with a towel, brushed it, and blow dried it straight. Hermione saturated her hair with gel and put it in a knot at the nape of her neck.
"That could work, too," said Lavender. "Hurry up and get dressed, the wedding is in five minutes." Lavender was already finished dressing. Her dress was on and her hair was done, and red toes peeked out from under her dress. Hermione got into her dress quickly and Lavender clasped her jewelry for her.
"How do I walk in these?" asked Hermione, holding up her shoes.
"You'll get the hang of it," said Lavender. She left the room, and Hermione followed her without putting her shoes on. Before walking down the stairs, Hermione stopped to put her shoes on.
"Lavender, you look great," said Ron from downstairs.
"Thanks, Hermione picked out the dress," Lavender said.
"I don't believe it," said Ron.
"Where is Hermione, Lavender?" asked Harry.
"She was right behind me," said Lavender. Hermione started to walk carefully down the stairs, so she wouldn't trip.
"Hermione?" asked Ron. Harry was just stunned.
"I had to put my shoes on," said Hermione. She tripped on the last step and fell, but Harry and Ron caught her. Hermione took off her shoes. "I think I'll wait till we're sitting down to wear these."
"That might be a good idea," said Lavender, nodding. It was still raining, so Harry, Ron, Lavender and Hermione ran down the path to the backyard into the tent. They entered the tent and, though they weren't that wet, accepted the towel handed to them by a man standing at the flap. They sat down in the tent and Hermione put her shoes back on.
"You look beautiful," said Harry.
"Thank you," said Hermione. "Now that you know what my dress looks like, where have you and Ron been going?"
"Ron and Lavender both agree that it would be better if I told you at the end of the school year," said Harry, with an apologetic look. "I really do want to tell you, and I want to show you, but I can't. I promised Ron. Lavender thinks it would just be sweeter if I gave it to you at the end of the year. I'm sorry Mimi, but I can't tell you."
"Fine," said Hermione, pouting.
"Shhh," said Lavender. "The ceremony is starting."
Chapter 27
Natasha walked down the isle, her hair back in a bun. Her dress was white with cap sleeves and a scoop neck for the fitted bodice and a full skirt to the floor. Her hair was surrounded by a tiny crown, and the veil came down from it. She was holding a bouquet of pink roses, and her bridesmaids dresses were the same pink, but with white roses.
"She looks so beautiful," whispered Lavender, and Hermione nodded. The ceremony passed without incident, and by the time it was over, it had stopped raining and the sun made the rain drops glisten on the trees and grass.
At the reception, Natasha held Viktor's arm and beamed as numerous guests congratulated the newly weds on the ceremony. Hermione sat with Ron, Harry and Lavender at a table in the corner.
"Why don't we get out of here?" asked Harry. "Let's go talk."
Chapter 28
Hermione and Harry said congratulations to Viktor and Natasha and slipped out to go sit by the pool.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" asked Hermione.
"Last night, when I said I loved you," said Harry.
"Oh," said Hermione, her heart dropping. He's going to take it back.
"Why didn't you say anything back?" asked Harry, with a hurt expression on his face. Hermione nearly burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, Harry," said Hermione. "I was just so stunned I couldn't think of anything to say."
"You could have said anything," said Harry. "Anything would have been better then that, that stunned, shocked silence."
"Harry, I'm really sorry I didn't say anything," said Hermione. "It was going in my head but my mouth just wouldn't form the words."
"What words were those?" asked Harry. "It's too soon? Oh Harry that's so sweet, but I'm not ready for that kind of commitment? Or the regular you don't know what love is?"
"None of those," said Hermione. "I wished I had told you that I love you too, and have for a good while." Harry's face broke into a broad smile. Hermione smiled back at him. Harry grabbed Hermione's head and held it level with his.
"Don't you ever do that to me again," said Harry. "I was so scared that you were going to say something else. You are the first person I've ever really felt love for, and to have that love rejected. I was devastated."
"I said I love you too, what more do you want?" asked Hermione. Harry leaned forward and kissed her.
"Nothing," said Harry. "Absolutely nothing."
Chapter 29
The next day Harry, Hermione, Ron and Lavender left Bulgaria for Hogwarts. After a long plane ride followed by a longer train ride, they were back at Hogwarts. Hermione was eager to get back to her classes and get back to studying for the O.W.L.s. They would start taking them in a month's time, and she wanted to be fully prepared.
"Hermione," said Ron. "Remind me, why do we keep coming to the library even when we've made zillions of study sheets?"
"Because we may find more information that could be useful and get us top marks," said Hermione. "I don't know about you, but I want to be fully prepared."
The weeks passed. Hermione, Harry and Ron took their O.W.L.s and passed with top marks. Gryffindor won the house cup, not because of Harry's magnificent Snitch catch, but because of Ron's fabulous keeper skills and Angelina, Katie and Alicia's amazing new tactics. After the game, Hermione went running over to Harry and Ron.
"That was the Quidditch World Cup all over again, minus the angry veela and crude leprechauns," she said, hugging Ron and kissing Harry. Malfoy, who had finally managed to catch the snitch against Harry (but obviously hadn't been paying attention to the score), was now spitting on the ground and yelling at the keeper for letting so many by.
"Malfoy, we're kicking you off the team," said the keeper, who was the captain.
"What? You can't do that! Where are you going to find another seeker like me?" asked Malfoy.
"You mean one that will have his father buy the whole team new brooms to guarantee his spot on the team?" asked the captain. "It shouldn't be hard. I already have a few people in mind." Malfoy's eyes widened and his nostrils became slits. He drew himself up and walked away. The win had secured Gryffindor's fourth House Cup in a row. At the celebration, Harry turned to Hermione, pulled out a long, slender velvet box and handed it to her.
"I didn't have time to wrap it," said Harry. "Sorry."
"Harry, you really shouldn't have," said Hermione. She opened the box and gasped. Inside was a charm bracelet. There were five different charms.
"I'll give you another one each year," said Harry. "I had the charms made special. Each is a trial that our friendship has gone through and that we've overcome, starting with what made us friends in the first place." Hermione looked closely and saw a little troll, swinging its club, a snake, she assumed it was a basilisk that hissed and barred its long fangs, a rat that changed back and forth to a man, a trophy, and a heart.
"Harry this is so wonderful," said Hermione. "I love you so much. How am I going to deal without you for two months?"
"You won't have to," said Harry. "Sirius will gladly let you come. It was his idea, actually. He said my dad gave one to my mom. The last charm was her engagement ring. She didn't actually wear it; she had it on her charm bracelet."
"That's so sweet, Harry," said Hermione. She smiled and kissed him, and started to dig into her food, but stopped. "Harry I want you to know that I love every bit of you from your too big sneakers to your lightning bolt scar."
THE END
I've finished it!!! After like three years, I decided to finish it!! But, sadly, this marks my retirement from the fan fiction world. I will only finish stories that I have started now. I would like to thank all my faithful reviewers, I love all of you, J.K. Rowling, who, without her great books, gave me something to do, and lastly to Chris, because even though he's never read the Harry Potter books, read my fan fiction anyway and told me it was good. Thank you everybody and goodnight!