****not my characters*****

thanks for all the reading/revisions guys

Ron and Ginny all screamed with delight and danced around the front of their new home.

That evening Ron proposed to Lavender and she accepted. "Did Emma get in touch with you today?" Ron asked. "Yes, I signed the papers. Ron, how are we going to afford this?" asked Lavender. "Don't worry about it Lav. The Cannons are one of the highest paid teams in the league. We would have gotten a raise this year if we had gone to the World Cup, but we all know what happened there," said Ron rolling his eyes. The Chudley Cannons had been cheated out of their chance to compete in the Quiddich World Cup. The official from the Tutshill Tornados allowed a goal that should have been considered illegal. There was a lot of controversy surrounding that match. "Harry and I both make enough money to take care of you and Ginny without you working if you chose," Ron said kissing Lavender, "It's only going to increase over time. Harry and I have taken special accounts at Gringotts to prepare for futures, retirements and everything else." Lavender seemed to relax a bit more hearing this. "What about Snape and Hermione?" she asked. "You know Snape inherited his father's money. He really has no need to teach," Ron replied. "Why though? I mean, why someone would want to teach when he doesn't seem to enjoy it?" asked Lavender. "Well, it's complicated. He vowed not to spend his family's money until he was settled with a wife who would help carry on the Snape bloodline. He didn't feel it was right. His entire family was Death Eaters. Snape watched his parents die. Apparently, the Death Eaters were like vultures. They turned on their own kind to help themselves. I think Hermione said four Death Eaters surrounded Mr. and Mrs. Snape and cast Avada on them. Severus watched it happen. It was that moment when he decided he wanted out. That's when he became a spy for our side," Ron finished. Lavender sat in stunned silence for a few minutes. It was one thing learning a professor you despised in school was human, had feelings, and wasn't such a bad guy, but to learn the intimate details of his family's demise was upsetting. "That's probably the reason he was so bitter and foul all those years, right?" she asked. "Yup. Since Hermione's come into his life, he's really not too horrible. She's softened him up a bit. He seems like a normal person now," said Ron. He really hated to admit openly he didn't mind Snape anymore.



The next day, Lavender helped Ron box his tiny room up. They moved onto the kitchen where they packed everything and used the Scourgify charm. Harry was supposed to pack his room, the living room and bathroom. "Thank goodness for Scourgify," sighed Lavender sitting down on a box. "We'd never be finished if we were doing it by hand," Ron agreed. Moving day was tomorrow. Lavender had been packed for a few days now except for a few necessity items. "So, how do you want to do things once we get moved in?" Lavender asked. "What do you mean?" asked Ron getting himself a butterbeer. "Do you want to share a room or stay in separate rooms?" she asked barely above a whisper. They had not yet had sex. Lavender was a virgin and wanted to remain one until she became married. "Whatever you want to do, Lav," replied Ron putting his butterbeer down on the counter. "Do you want to stay in the same room or separate?" he asked her crouching down so he was eye level with her. "I'd like to stay in the same room, but it'd probably be better if we didn't," said Lavender looking down at her hands. Ron put his finger under her chin and lifted so she would look at him. "It's alright. I respect that," Ron said with a smile. "Have you given any thought to the wedding?" asked Ron to try to cheer her up. "I really don't want a wedding. I'd like to go to the Ministry and have one of the Wizengamot marry us. Maybe we could ask Dumbledore? Then I'd like to have a small party with our families and closest friends," Lavender said. She didn't want a big drawn out wedding because she didn't want to wait to marry Ron. "Works for me," Ron replied, "Mum's going to be going bonkers with Ginny's wedding. If she had to deal with another wedding at the same time, we'd have to put her in St. Mungo's." Lavender laughed. "Besides, we could always have a big wedding several years from now to renew our vows if we wanted," Ron said to her. "That's a good idea. How's next month sound for a wedding?" Lavender asked Ron. "Perfect. I'll owl Mum & Dad," said Ron and he went off to find Pigwidgeon.

Everyone was moved in and unpacked two weeks later. The Manor was beautifully decorated. The house elves were a big help with unpacking and organizing. Ginny, Hermione and Lavender decided collectively how to decorate the bottom floor of the house. You could see hints of each girl any where you looked. The couples decorated their own floors. The second floor which belonged to Harry and Ginny was done in an understated fashion, yet beautiful. The third floor which was Lavender's and Ron's was done in bold colors. The fourth floor which was obviously Severus's and Hermione's was decorated in green and silver and adorned with pewter snakes. It resembled Snape's quarters in Hogwarts. Hermione splashed a bit of red here in there. She was, after all, a Gryffindor. So what if she was a Slytherin by marriage? She had red and gold blood in her veins.



That night at dinner, Hermione made a grand dinner to celebrate their home being completed. She refused to let the house elves help her. She didn't like having the elves around because of S.P.E.W and her views about house elves, but she had to admit they were a big help in keeping the house clean. That was really the only reason she kept them on. After dinner, everyone felt grateful they wore their robes because they stuffed themselves. The conversation turned to Ron and Lavender's wedding. "It's not a wedding!" cried Lavender for the umpteenth time that evening, "We're getting married by Dumbledore and then we're having a small party." "Be glad Lavender. We've got Wesley and it's still stressful," Ginny said flopping down on the couch. "Expensive too," Harry whispered to Ron. "Have you decided on anything yet?" Hermione asked sitting down on the arm of the chair Severus was sitting in. "We've owled the people we want to come to the party. There are about 30 people coming including all of the Weasleys, you guys, and the Hogwarts professors," Lavender said as she tallied the number on her fingers. "Would you like me to bake a cake?" Hermione asked. "Would you? That would be really great, Hermione. I kind of like Ginny's cake with the enchanted sugar butterflies. Do you think you could make it with enchanted sugar faeries?" Lavender asked looking at Ginny if she agreed. "That's a great idea Lavender. Not totally like mine, but unique. I would have picked faeries if I had thought of it," Ginny replied. Ginny was completely okay with Lavender elaborating on her cake. "Chocolate cake and frosting?" Hermione asked. At this, Severus and Harry got up and excused themselves. They had had it up to their ears with wedding talk. Three brides in the house made weddings a constant discussion. "Don't be long," Severus growled quietly in Hermione's ear. She smiled at him watching him walk up the stairs as she sat down in the chair. Ron had no choice but to stay, because it was his non-wedding. "Yes, chocolate/chocolate!" Lavender said getting excited. "Are you going to have Professor Sprout take care of some flowers for you and for decoration?" Ginny asked Lavender. "I hadn't thought about it. I suppose I could," Lavender replied looking at Ron who shrugged. "Do you need new dress robes Ron?" Hermione asked. "I suppose I need a new one," Ron said. "Would you like me to pick one up for you when I go find myself something nice to wear?" Lavender asked. "Sure," Ron replied yawning. "This takes care of everything I think. We can pick up a few things here and there in Diagon Alley when we go this weekend," Hermione said. "Can I go upstairs now Lavender?" Ron asked like a man who was on wedding overload. "Good night, love. I'll see you tomorrow," Lavender said kissing him.

The non-wedding was beautiful. Lavender chose a light blue dress robe that played up her blond hair and blue eyes. Ron wore a plain black dress robe with a single white rose pinned to it. They made a very beautiful couple. Professor Sprout arranged white roses in Lavender's long hair and in a beautiful bouquet. She and Professor McGonagall enchanted the back yard to be covered in white roses with faeries flitting around. The night air was warm with a hint of fall approaching. Molly cried as she saw her baby boy standing with his new wife. Love was definitely in the air. Hagrid and Olympe Maxim, who was in her sixth month of pregnancy, gave Ron and Lavender a beautiful handmade wedding album from France. Hermione, who was taking photographs, put it away so it didn't get dirty and so she could arrange the photos for Lavender and Ron. After all the guests had left, and the house elves were cleaning up, Ron and Lavender stood on the bridge over the pond. The moonlight was behind them and cast a beautiful halo around the couple. "I love you, Lavender. Thank you for becoming my wife," Ron said as he kissed her. Of course, Hermione snapped a picture.



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