A/N: Hey there! It's Lauren here, and I've got chapter twenty-one for ya! Yay! I hope you all like it, it was a little weird to write, but I hope you like it all the same. It's extra long for your enjoyment! Hope you like it!

Lauren

Disclaimer: Harry Potter's too cool for me to own!

Hey guys, Lauren here.

Chapter twenty-one

Messy Moving

The next morning, Hermione rolled over against Ron, knocking him onto the floor. Huh? he mumbled, rubbing his head and getting up to his feet. Once he stood up, he looked down at Hermione, who had a big grin on her face. He rested his hand on her forehead and gently patted her head.

"Oh, watch it, you'll get yours soon…" he whispered playfully. Hermione grinned even bigger, and he bent down to kiss her cheek. She fought the urge to open her eyes and ruin the whole joke, even if she was smiling like a banshee. But she slipped her hand behind his neck and pulled him closer to kiss him back. He sat back down on the bed and immediately felt a sense of immobility come over him. Wait, why am I awake? It's Sunday…time for sleep again! Okay, so Ron lay back onto the bed and snuggled with Hermione. It didn't take long for them to fall back to sleep.

Had Ginny not come to wake them up two hours later, they may as well have slept all day. But nooo, it was time for moving. Ron was going to pack their things, while Ginny and Hermione went to Hogsmeade to begin the wedding shopping. Both Ron and Hermione were beyond excited for their big move. Sure, Ron had spent his entire paycheck on the first month's rent, but it had been completely worth it. A place of their own…Ron nearly giggled at the thought. Wait, I don't giggle!

Well, nearly.

After Ginny left, the two slowly got up, dressed, and headed down the stairs. Ginny was waiting for them at the table, hands crossed. Hermione noticed a look of anxiety on her face as she took a seat next to her.

"Ginny, what is it?"

"Oh, nothing, I just, well…it's gonna be a little weird when you guys leave, you know?"

"Ginny, we're just an apparation away, you know that. Whenever you need us, we'll be there in a second! And besides, school is starting in two weeks, so you won't be alone. And remember, you're still helping with the wedding shopping, which we have to do this week before you leave. Actually, you're welcome to stay with us, since we live in Hogsmeade, we'll be shopping right down the street, so it may be easier that way. What do you think?"

"Are you sure? I mean, I don't want to impose or anything…you guys are just moving in, you probably want time alone for once, don't you?"

"Ginny, we'll have plenty of alone time, once things get settled, don't worry about it."

Ginny looked back and forth between Ron and Hermione, making sure they were both sure about this. When she seemed satisfied, she nodded her head happily. Hermione looked over at Ron and grinned at Ginny's excitement. It was a good thing school was starting so soon, Ginny really needed the distraction. Hermione wasn't sure she could take much more of Ginny's pain, it hurt her too much. And if it was hurting her that much, it was definitely hurting Ron. But she knew what she Ginny had meant about them moving out; it really was going to be weird. She could remember all the time she, Ron and Harry had spent together there, and now…now they were facing the real world. No more school, no more being just down the stairs…yes, she was ecstatic to be living with Ron, it was a dream come true, but she was a little scared. Scared of not being under the safe roof of Hogwarts, or the Burrow. She came to the harsh realization that they were going to be taking care of themselves. As she thought about what all this meant, Ron cleared his throat.

"Well, I suppose I should start packing then, no?"

"All right, we'll be going then as well," Hermione sighed. She had sort of been dreading the actual shopping part of planning the wedding for some time now, but it's a dirty job, and someone's gotta do it, right? After walking with him upstairs, she kissed Ron good-bye, and the two girls headed back to the kitchen, and Hermione couldn't stop worrying about the future. Where they really ready? Would they be able to support themselves? She decided then and there that she would probably ease her mind if she…

"Ginny, what would you think if I got a job?"

Ginny almost giggled, avoiding the glare from Hermione and looking at the moving floor beneath them.

"Hermione, is it really necessary? I mean, right now, you don't have to be thinking about that. You should be focusing on the wedding, don't you think? Ron's already at work, and if you start now, no one will be working on the wedding! That would be, well, disastrous. Just wait Hermione. It'll be fine. Afterwards, then you can start thinking about it, all right?"

Ginny had a point, which Hermione seemed to have noticed. She fell silent and returned to herthinking. There really wasn't much to shop for, or so Hermione presumed. Incorrectly, obviously. Ginny knew better though. She was prepared.

The girls made their way downstairs to the kitchen, where Mrs. Weasley was ready with the pot of floo powder.

"Ready, girls?" she asked sweetly.

"Mum, you're coming with us?" asked Ginny incredulously. For some reason this made Ginny uncomfortable and embarrassed.

"Well, I thought I might be of some help, seeing as how I've actually had one of these thing…Hermione, I hope you don't mind, if you do, I'll stay behind and let you girls do it yourselves…" she said with a resigned look on her face.

"Mrs. Weasley, I'd love for you to come, we could use all the help we could get! I mean, I barely know where to start!" Hermione rebutted. Mrs. Weasley smiled, then held out the pot of floo powder. They both nodded, took a pinch of the glittery substance, and traveled through the fireplace, ending up in a dress shop. Hermione had never noticed the bridal shops in Hogsmeade before, she figured she had simply overlooked them all those times before. In fact, there were so many that they didn't know where to start. Luckily, Mrs. Weasley was quite helpful.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Five whole hours later, the sun was setting over Hogsmeade as three women made their way, hands full, through a fireplace to a beautiful apartment building a few blocks away. Inside, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley set the several bags down. Hermione flicked on a light switch, and the two gasped.

"Hermione, it's really nice! I mean, it's not that small, and sure, it's simple, but it's, well, it's cute, you know? Oh, Hermione, I love it!" Ginny beamed. Hermione smiled. Mrs. Weasley looked too happy to speak. As the three admired the apartment, Ron came in from the kitchen.

"There you are, I've been expecting you for two hours now! Sheesh, I got worried and everything, so I started unpacking and—dear god, how much shopping did you do today?" Ron asked, flabbergasted, and staring wide-eyed at the bags on the floor. He had reason, or so he thought: at least twenty bags and packages lay on the floor. Hermione smiled sheepishly at him while Ginny giggled to herself. Mrs. Weasley, on the other hand, looked at him like he had no idea what he was talking about.

"Ron, I'd like to see you go shopping for a wedding! There's dresses to buy, accessories, decorations, why you have no idea!" she said, making Ron eat his words. He tried to imagine himself shopping for a wedding…oooh no, never ever! he thought, shaking his head to dissolve the vision. The other three looked at him in confusion, as Hermione smirked. Ron was the one who smiled sheepishly this time.

"So, uh, shall we continue unpacking the boxes then?" he asked, changing the subject.

A while later, fifteen boxes were spread across the floor, some opened, some not. Ginny was laying on the floor, half asleep, half unpacking, while Ron and Hermione were talking in the kitchen.

"You know, we should probably think about getting a sofa…" she stated, peering past Ron to see Ginny slumped against the wall, trying desperately to stay awake.

"Yeah, she looks dead tired…she's staying with us, right? Are you sure she wouldn't wait a few days, at least till we get some furniture? I mean, we're gonna have to sleep there, we don't even have a bed!"

"Wow, I guess we didn't think about that, did we…"