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Disclaimer: I own nothing, nothing I tell you! All the characters, places etc. belong to JKR.
*** HAPPILY EVER AFTER?
*** "Harry?" Hermione turned to look at her fiancee in amazement. Harry gulped. "Well, it's the perfect solution," he said. "You get the simplicity you want and I get what I want - to marry you." "But how, Harry?" "Well, you remember that Christmas party we went to for Ron's work? Well, the Australian Minister of Magic kind of owes me a favour." Hermione gave him a suspicious look, so Harry elaborated. "A group of us kind of got bored so we started a few games of cards. When the Minister of Magic ran out of money, she said she'd owe me a favour. She has the authority to do this, Hermione," he told her earnestly. "What do you say?" Hermione's eyes turned skywards. After a moments thought, she looked directly into Harry's eyes, deep into his emerald pools. "I say... I can be ready in ten minutes. What about you?" For a second, harry couldn't comprehend what she was saying, then it was like a switch was flicked. "You mean you will?" he asked weakly. "Yes!" Hermione said grinning. She scrambled off the hammock and gave Harry and earnest look. "Let's do this." Smiling, Harry too got off the hammock. Hermione's smile broadened and she kissed him quickly on the cheek before dashing into the house. Harry followed her in a daze, somewhat similar to the first time he had kissed her. As Hermione had promised, she was ready in a matter of minutes. Wearing a pale lilac dress, she had curled her hair slightly with a charm and was wearing her usual bare minimum of make-up. She was also wearing her simple diamond necklace which glittered in the light. She waited patiently while Harry fumbled with a plain navy tie. She giggled slightly and kneeled behind him on the bed, reaching round his neck to tie it properly. When she had finished he turned around to face her. He thought she looked breathtaking, and he could hardly believe this was happening. He took her hand in his and looked into her eyes. "Are you ready?" he asked. She nodded and he said, "Let's go." Then he seemed to realise something. "Ron and the others are going to be here in about an hour. What are we going to do?" Hermione considered this for a second. "Leave them a note," she told him. She summoned a piece of parchment and a quill, and quickly scribbled a note for Ron and the others. "'Dear Ron and Lav etc.'," Hermione read. "'Have gone out. Be back soon, love Harry and Hermione.'" "You're not going to tell them what we're doing?" Harry asked. "Do they really need to know?" she asked. Harry smiled. "I suppose not." He kissed her on the forehead and said, "Shall we go, Mrs Potter?" "We shall, Mr Potter," Hermione told him grinning. Together they Disapparated with a small 'pop'. "Oh, hurry up Ron!" Lavender yelled through the bathroom door. "The Portkey leaves in ten minutes and I need the loo!" "Too much information there, Lav," Seamus told her, lugging his suitcase out of his bedroom which was a couple of doors down from the bathroom. Lavender scowled at him and tightened the sleek ponytail she had pulled her hair into. Ginny emerged from her room, looking rather exhausted, and asked, "Have either of you seen my burgundy dress?" just as Ron came out of the bathroom. "I can't find it anywhere!" she told them. "I think it's in my room," Seamus told her and she nodded gratefully before dashing into Seamus's room. "Why is my sister's dress in your room?" Ron demanded. He turned to Lavender with a questioning look on his face. "Sorry, love, can't help you," Lavender told him, hurrying into the bathroom. Ron turned to Seamus. "Why is my sister's dress in your room?" he repeated. Seamus sighed. "If you must know, she left it in there." "What?" exploded Ron. "She what?!" "She left it in there. She was going to lend it to me but we decided that burgundy really wasn't my colour." Ron raised an eyebrow at this. "For once I really hope you're joking, Finnigan. And why are you wearing that T-shirt?" He pointed at Seamus's white T-shirt which had a large green shamrock on the front. Underneath the shamrock were the words 'Kiss Me, I'm Irish'. "It's a fashion statement," said Seamus defiantly. "What's the statement? 'I'm a demented Irishman'?" Seamus scowled. "Fine, I won't wear it if you're going to be like that!" He set down his suitcase and pulled his T-shirt off over his head to reveal a well-toned stomach. "Grow up, Seamus, you're not going to the Quidditch match like that!" Ron told him. "He can go like that if he wants," Ginny said, emerging from Seamus's room, the burgundy dress folded over one of her arms. "I don't mind." Seamus grinned. Ron merely scowled and walked down the stair sulking. "I think he got out the wrong side of bed this morning," said Ginny, pulling a hair tie from the pocket of her faded jeans. They were her favourite pair and had been mended and patched several times. She pulled her pair into a loose ponytail at the base of her neck and frowned. "I hate travelling by Portkey - it messes up my hair!" "Your hair looks fine," said Seamus and he picked up his suitcase before walking down the staircase, still without a T-shirt on. They arrived outside the impressive mansion which belonged to the Australian Minister of Magic, Liberty Wallace. The mansion was about twice the size of the one which the England Squad were staying in. Hand in hand, Harry and Hermione walked up the driveway to the large front door. His hand shaking slightly, Harry pulled the chain by the door and a loud clanging could be heard from inside the house. A couple of seconds later the door was opened by a balding man in a crisp black tuxedo. He reminded Hermione somewhat of the waiters at Le Petit Choux. "How many I be of service?" he asked. His voice was distinctly British, this was the Wallace's Butler. "We would like to see Liberty Wallace, please," Harry told him. Hermione held back a giggle: Harry's accent had suddenly gone to an upper class level. "Is she expecting you?" "No, but please tell her that Harry Potter is here." As per usual, the man's eyes flicked up to Harry's hairline. "Certainly, sir." He Disapparated and reappeared a couple of seconds later. "Follow me," he told them. He led them through what seemed to be a maze of corridors. If they hadn't had the Butler with them, they would probably have got lost. They eventually stopped in a large Hall. It seemed to be some sort of Ballroom. A woman was busy at the other end. She had a large easel and paints and was staring out of the window. Every so often the would dab some paint onto the canvas. Harry turned to thank the Butler, but he had gone. The woman spotted them and smiled. She set down her paintbrush and walked towards them. She was about thirty-five years old and had long auburn hair. She had brown eyes that seemed to be glittering with excitement. "Harry! To what do I owe this pleasure?" she asked. "It's great to see you again, Liberty," Harry said. He kissed her cheek. "Actually, this is about that favour you owe me." "Oh, yes. I remember now. So what would you like me to do for you? As long as it doesn't involve stripping I'm up for it." Hermione seemed a little surprised by this statement, but then again, this was the youngest Australian Minister of Magic for three hundred years. She had a reputation for living on the wild side. "I'll pass on the stripping, thanks," Harry told her and she grinned. Harry cast a glance at Hermione and took hold of her hand. Hermione smiled up at him. "We want you to marry us. Today" "To each other?" "That's kind of the idea," Harry said. Liberty smiled. "Of course. That's fine by me. Do you have the rings?" Hermione looked worried. "We don't have any rings. We haven't even picked them out yet." Harry drew a box out of his pocket. It was very similar to the one he had given to Hermione with her engagement ring in, except it was twice the length. He opened it and showed it to her. "Yes we do. These were my parents. Sirius gave them to me when I told him about our engagement. Apparently they've been in the Potter family for generations." "They're perfect," breathed Hermione, staring in wonder at the two rings. They were both plain gold bands with just a slight engraving on each. One was about twice the width of the other, marking it out as the man's ring. "Absolutely perfect." "Shall we get this show on the road?" asked Liberty. Harry and Hermione turned towards her. Using magic she had changed her clothes into formal robes with the Australian Ministry's emblem on them - a platypus and a koala encircled by eucalyptus leaves. The couple nodded. "Then follow me," Liberty told them, and she led them down the corridor to her bright and airy office. A/N: I bet you were all thinking the wedding would be in this chapter! Ha! Dream on... Here's a thanks section for Chapter Three:
Review, Flame, Whatever. silverphoenix |
Happily Ever After?
By: silvernatasha
***COMPLETED*** The sequel to 'So What Now?'. After seven years at Hogwarts the gang are ready for the real world, but is the real world ready for them?
Rated: Fiction K+ - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P., Hermione G. - Chapters: 21 - Words: 50,369 - Reviews: 458 - Favs: 74 - Follows: 9 - Updated: Oct 31, 2002 - Published: Mar 20, 2002 - Status: Complete - id: 669417
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Full 3/4 1/2 Expand Tighten
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