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TRUST IN ME
by Tyde

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Chapter Two

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Ron'd had a reprise of about three days where Hermione had seemed relaxed and not insane about the wedding.

Those were blissful days, filled with fun, frivolity and as Harry liked to call it freaky sex. But all of that flew out the window when it came the day to get the groomsmen fitted for their outfits. She made sure they Apparated to the store a little early so she could check out the bridal wear too.

Although Hermione had an appointment with a designer the following Wednesday she thought it couldn't hurt to have a little look around while they were there. They stepped through the door and headed straight to the ladies section.

Ron thought he'd never seen so many frills or lace all in the one place before. Hermione was doing her usual freak out when it came to the details and her grip on his hand was less than romantic.

"There's less than three months until the ceremony! What if I can't find anything to wear?" Hermione dropped his hand which had started to ache and bustled off around Fairweather's Formal Frippery. Ron watched her walk away, sighing quietly over the glimpse of smooth leg he'd seen whenever she picked up the pace. Whichever designer decided to put side splits in women's robes was a genius he decided.

"Mione?"

"Hmmm?" She was leafing through a rack of cream wedding robes on the far wall.

"I wouldn't mind awfully if you couldn't find something to wear to the wedding"

"Oh Ron," she slapped him playfully "Is that all you think about?"

"Snot my fault. After all it is your nakedness that distracts me"

"I could say the same about you" she murmured as she kissed him quickly.

"Well if that isn't a lead in for a sponge bath Nurse Granger, I don't know what is"

"Later sweetie. Now we have to find outfits" she glanced at her wrist to check the time. "You did tell Dean and Seamus that it was 10 o'clock sharp to meet, didn't you?"

Ron's eyes avoided hers. "Uh, yeah. I think so"

"Ron!" she said warningly.

He put his arm around her and hugged her to him. "Don't worry love, they probably just popped into the pub for a drink on their way here, you know those two"

"At ten in the morning?! And remind me again why Harry had to reschedule?"

"Er, actually I don't really know. He said it was some sort of emergency"

"Was it a getting laid emergency?"

"Hermione!"

"What? You can't be the only crass one? Even since we told him he was tense, he's been scoping for girls"

"I'm sure it's a totally legitimate reason"

~*~

He knocked on the door of the Burrow and it opened up for him, a little trail of sparks formed in the air and pointed toward the lounge room to indicate that the only person home was in there. He found Ginny sitting on an overstuffed couch and curled up with a book. She lifted her eyes from the book to see who it was that had arrived.

"Hullo Harry"

"Morning Ginny" he smiled warmly at her.

"They've already left you know"

He looked confused. "What?"

"Ron and Hermione, they left about 20 minutes ago for the formal wear shop. You were supposed to meet them, weren't you?"

"Oh I'm not here to see them. Something urgent came up and I had to reschedule. I popped in to see you actually"

"How come?"

Harry settled down on the couch next to her and took the book out of her hands, laying it on the floor. "Well you're a woman..."

"How very astute of you"

"You know what I mean. What I wanted to ask was – am I unattractive?" His eyes showed doubt and longing.

She analysed his face "No, why?"

"Cause I haven't had a girlfriend, or a date for that matter in ages" he glumly admitted.

Ginny chuckled at his apparently helplessness. "You're not getting angsty on me are you Mister Potter?"

He wrinkled his nose up at that comment. "Just a smidge. When we went out in your seventh year I wasn't horrible to you was I?"

"Not at all" she patted his arm comfortingly.

"Then why did you dump me?"

"Truthfully?" He looked straight at her. An emerald gaze that had occasionally done guest spots in her dreams over the years.

"Yeah"

"You were distracting me. Mum was on me about doing the best I could for my N.E.W.T.s and as much as she loves you she told me you were a bad influence"

"A bad influence?"

"Well you do have a habit of walking into danger and I didn't fancy losing an arm or leg before I had the chance to finish school"

"Would you consider going out with me again then?"

"Well gee, after that lead in Harry, why wouldn't I?" she poked him in the arm. "A little more tact required before I think about going down that road again".

"You're wonderful Gin, and we get along really well. Unless you're still going with Colin"

Her face wrinkled up in distaste "No, I'm not still going with Colin. You know that obsession he had with his camera at school?" Harry nodded "Well he hasn't gotten over it but now he takes pictures of more – well, different – things than Ron burping up slugs or you training for Quidditch"

"You mean?"

"Found about ten cameras all set up in his bedroom. Mind you that was wishful thinking on his part, he'd never get me in there in the first place under the normal circumstances"

"So you're looking for something new? Or perhaps something tried and true?" he laid a hand on hers and smiled his sweetest smile. One that used to make her melt at the knees. "It would be nice, you and me, don't you think?"

"Yes I think it would be nice, but not if you're doing it just to get laid" he opened his mouth in protest but she shook her head as if to say she was just ribbing him. "You'll have to woo me first of course".

~*~

Seamus tugged at the cloak which was too tight around his neck and starting to make an issue with breathing.

"Ron, why can't I just get me Ma to make robes for me?"

But Ron didn't get the chance to answer before Hermione butted in. "Because your mother has a habit of setting things on fire Seamus, just like you did at school. I don't want to put something so important in her hands if you just end up wearing a pile of ashes to the wedding"

"I'm going to tell her you said that" his indignant tone was apparent.

"I've already spoken to her Seamus and she agreed with me. Now if you'll just stand still for a moment Mister Fairweather will adjust that collar for you"

The middle-aged shopkeeper leaned in with his tape measure and waved his wand at the collar. It widened just a bit and Seamus started massaging his neck, trying to get the feeling back.

Hermione switched her attention to Dean Thomas who was quite excited about the whole thing. Or that's how it appeared to Hermione anyway. What she didn't know was that he'd downed a dozen or so shots of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey before facing her that morning.

As he'd said to Seamus that morning at the pub "Ron says she's on a rampage, worse than when she was Head Girl. Best keep out of her way or give yourself a big helping of liquid courage if she's unavoidable". He teetered a little on the stool he was perched on but she didn't notice.

Ron had gone into a little bit of a trance thinking about what sort of present he could get Hermione for the wedding when he heard a clicking sound, like someone was snapping their fingers. It was then that he realised he'd dozed off in the comfy chair and his fiancé was impatiently snapping her fingers in front of his face to get him to wake up.

"Ron! WAKE UP!" Her hands were on her hips and she looked mildly furious. She turned around to face Seamus and Dean who were now standing on level ground and had their full outfits on. "What do you think?"

Balanced on their heads were top hats of a mottled, woollen charcoal grey with black satin ribbon around the brim. Their cloaks were thick black velvet and underneath were charcoal grey three-piece suits. Dark blue cravats decorated their throats and a pair of black 19th century button up boots completed the effect.

Dean was trying to keep himself from laughing and Seamus was shaking slightly with the urge to keep his mirth under control. Ron knew Hermione had spent a lot of time designing the outfits with Molly's help, to that perfect blend of Muggle and wizard charm and she'd succeeded. His two groomsmen may have thought otherwise but Ron was quite impressed.

"They look wonderful, love" he stood and snaked his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.

She beamed at this comment. It was the first genuinely sincere thing he'd said about the wedding preparations to date.

"Of course we'll have to get those dolts out of them. No good spoiling brilliant outfits like that with two no good drunks like that". Dean looked ready to protest but instead fell over his own feet, landing in a heap of the floor with the sound of Seamus's giggling ringing in his ears.

"Remind me to not let either of them near the bar before the ceremony" Hermione said dryly.

~*~

Author's note: Thanks for the review Jen – some people can just get very 'demotivating' with their pleas for updates and I don't want that to happen cause then I just type up any old crap to get it out there. But gentle nudging is allowed, and that's what you did. Gentle nudge away! :o)

And also thanks to me for reviewing too. It's not me me it's some other me. There are a lot of us out there hehe. I'm rocking and I'm a rolling, so thanks!