(A/N) Thanks Anne for beta-ing!)
Chapter Four
Of Weddings and Weasleys
Hermione had done a lot of thinking since Ron's arrival, thinking about what was between them. That little conversation had patched things up, sort of, but not entirely. They were friends, she guessed, but it was awkward. If only they hadn't mucked things up so much! She would owl him; she had to owl him.
She would see him tonight; there was no rush.
* Harry looked at Ginny. The wizard who was performing the ceremony was telling them their positions and such and was supposed to be giving them tips on the wedding, but all Harry could think of was, "She's going to be mine, she's really going to be mine." Ginny was looking at him and smiling like he was the best person in the world which, made him feel higher and prouder then anything.
He smiled at her, and she gave him a smile back, and a wink. He felt his heart drop, and he felt feverish and giddy at the same time. * "Try not to look at him," Hermione told herself for the umpteenth time. She tried to stare directly at the minister, but found it was becoming increasingly more difficult. The fact that Ron was staring directly at her during the whole rehearsal wasn't helping much either.
She shivered, and drew her cloak around her.
The minister said the final words, and she grasped Ron's arm to head back down the aisle, ignoring the spark their clash of skin created. * Heidie Weasley looked down the table and sighed. This rehearsal dinner was boring her out of her mind! She loudly took a long slurp of her drink, and looked at the people sitting around her.
Her cousins stared back at her, bored as she was.
She was seated next to Gertie, who was her age. Heidie didn't particularly care for Gertie, who was the most boring girl she believed she'd ever met. All Gertie talked about was dolls, and Heidie loathed dolls.
She decided to give it a try anyway, and poked Gertie with her fork.
"Ow!" Gertie looked up sharply. "Heidie! What are you doing?"
Heidie decided to start out the conversation. "So," she said, stirring her mashed potatoes with a fork. This called for drastic measures. She was going to have to resort to the worst conversation topic she knew of. "Got any new dolls recently?"
Heidie knew at once she had made a mistake. Gertie squealed and proceeded to talk about dolls with gusto.
"I got this one doll from Grandmummy Clearwater and she is the most precious thing! Her name is Barbie and she has many outfits. Why, I own forty-two shirts, twelve pairs of shoes,"
"So much for that," thought Heidie glumly, and staring at her food, she suddenly had inspiration. She took her spoon, and Gertie's spoon, and proceeded to shape her mashed potatoes into a big mound. She took her peas and started sprinkling them on top, to form a happy face.
"Fifteen hats, forty dresses, five pairs of sunglasses," Gertie continued, not noticing Heidie wasn't showing the least bit of interest in the conversation.
Heidie attacked her turkey next, crumbling it up to form what was really a mound of meat, but was a rose in her eyes. She made one on either side, and added the finishing touch, her name, written in gravy.
"Heidie!" her mum said sharply. "Stop playing with your food! And stop slouching over!"
Gertie kept blabbering on about dolls. Heidie sighed, and was about to fall asleep in her seat, when she suddenly remembered something very important. Her father and uncle had a brand new invention, Everlasting, Stretchy Licorice, and a bunch of it currently resided in her pocket.
She looked at her mother a couple of seats over, who was dealing with a very naughty Fred Jr. She made sure her mother wasn't looking, and dove under the table.
She made sure to pinch Percy Jr.'s leg as she crawled by, as he was the cousin she loathed the most. He looked wildly under the table, but she had already continued on her journey.
She heard a glass tinkle above her, and heard the room quiet down. To her surprise, the feet she was directly in front of rose, and she heard a male voice speak.
"Um, as the best man, I suppose I should give a short speech, today. So, um- "
Heidie recognized the voice as Uncle Ron's, and suddenly, a wicked plan formed in her mind. She quickly pulled it out and proceeded in tying Uncle Ron's legs together.
"Heidie? Where's Heidie?" she heard her mother's voice faintly, and stated tying quicker.
She diligently worked through his short speech and, as everyone was clinking glasses in celebration of the wedding tomorrow, she pulled back with a sigh of contentment.
Uncle Ron moved back towards his chair, and promptly fell over with a crash.
Heidie crept back to her seat, to the sounds of her relatives shrieking, her mother screaming her name, and more swear words then she had ever heard in her life.
*
Hermione watched as Ron toppled over and noticed his legs were tied together. She gave a small gasp and rushed over to him, without even realizing what she was doing.
"Ron, Ron, are you all right? Are you hurt?"
Ron got up, muttering a string of curse words.
"Do you want some ice, Ron? Is it bad?"
"I'll survive," Ron said, grunting. "What the bloody hell is on my leg?"
Hermione stood up, shaken. "C'mon, Hermione," said George, laughingly. "It's just only going to be a bruise."
Charlie put his hand over his heart. "Well, when one's in love, every cut on their love is as if a cut unto themselves."
Hermione turned bright red, and muttered something about going to the ladies' room. She stared at herself in the mirror, thinking about what they said. "Just ignore them, Hermione," she said aloud. But she couldn't help wondering if their words were true.
* "Hermione! Hermione! Hermione!"
Hermione Granger woke up to see Ginny shaking her by the shoulders looking very frantic.
"Hermione!"
"What?" asked Hermione groggily.
"Come on!" said Ginny, giving her another hard shake.
"Ginny," said Hermione, closing her eyes. "I love you to death, and I realize that this is your wedding day, but if you don't get your hands off me in the next five seconds-"
"Sorry," said Ginny, releasing her, and Hermione fell back upon her pillows. "I forgot you're not exactly a morning person."
"S'OK, Ginny," said Hermione. "I'm going to make myself some coffee."
"I already did," said Ginny. "I got up at six."
"Six?" Hermione stopped and stared at her. "As in SIX O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING?"
"Guilty," said Ginny.
Hermione reached the table, sat down and poured herself some coffee. Ginny seated herself across from Hermione. "I'm so nervous, Hermione."
Hermione reached for her hand across the table. "Don't worry Gin. You'll be lovely." Ginny smiled. * "Harry! Bloody hell, sit still!"
Harry was pacing in his flat, and Ron's eyes were following him, back and forth.
"I find it quite amusing, actually," said Fred, who was making faces in the mirror at himself. "He hasn't traveled two feet in two hours."
"How's the bump?" George went over to Ron, who uncovered a huge red welt on the side of his face.
"Damn," George said, inspecting it. "My niece got you, bad."
"And she has a death wish," muttered Ron.
He replaced the charm that his the welt from site and tried to ignore Fred's comments to his mirror.
"Looking good, Fred, c'mon boy, you're fine!"
Ron decided to think of better things instead, such as, Hermione. He always got a feeling of guilt when thinking about her. Their row had been pointless anyway. They had started talking about money, future, etc. and had just, well, blown up at each other. Ron could barely even remember why exactly. But he did remember Hermione screaming that he was " a selfish, horrible, disgusting pig," and he not calling her very nice things either.
They probably would have got over it, and kept their relationship intact if Ron hadn't done one of the dumbest things he ever did.
He volunteered to go back to full Auror duty.
After the war, it had been so peaceful that all Aurors except for a handful were dismissed from duty. They were required to return to duty if something came up, but other than that, were free to live their lives. They were allowed to return to full duty if they chose, so that was what Ron had done.
He had left the very next day, never even telling Hermione where he was going. He tried to convince himself over and over that he was doing the right thing, that they needed a break. They had been fighting so frequently, and he was frustrated. But deep down, he knew he had done one of the most stupid things he had ever done in his life. And he still loved her.
He had run away. And he had missed her like hell the whole time.
*
"Oh, Ginny!"
Ginny Weasley sat in a chair in front of a mirror, dressed in her wedding dress and veil. Her eyes twinkled and her red hair cascaded down her back.
She couldn't believe it. She was going to be Mrs. Harry Potter.
* Harry Potter stood at the altar, a knot in his stomach and a lump in his throat. He looked at Ron, who was at his side. Ron gave him an assuring grin and a nod. Harry watched Heidie prance down the aisle, throwing flowers and whispering, "Happy wedding day!" Gertie followed after her, her Barbie doll in her basket, throwing petals either sides.
Harry then watched Collin make his way down the aisle, scowling in his suit, carrying a ring on a pillow. Harry and Ginny had decided on having a Muggle wedding, so the boys wore tuxedos and the girls long, flowing dresses.
Harry heard the wedding march play, and his heart stopped. Ginny came gliding up the aisle, escorted by her father. Her luxurious, red hair cascaded down her back, and her white silk dress seemed to make her glow. She smiled at Harry, who smiled back, even though he was shaking inside.
The bridesmaids all came up the aisle, but all Harry could think about was Ginny.
Finally Hermione came, and Ron sucked in his breath. Harry felt sorry for his best friends. He knew they hadn't meant for that argument to happen, and that they hadn't really meant the awful things they had said, but it had ruined their relationship. They could barely look each other in the eye now, and Ron's absence had only made it worse.
* "Do you, Harry James Potter, take Virginia Elizabeth Weasley to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," he whispered.
"And do you, Virginia Elizabeth Weasley, take Harry James Potter, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
They exchanged rings, shakily, and smiled at each other.
"You may kiss the bride."
All conscious thoughts disappeared from Harry's thoughts as he kissed Ginny. * "No, way." Laura Weasley shook her head vigorously at her mother.
"I am not dancing with Percy."
"Don't look at me," scowled Percy Jr. "You think I want to dance with you?"
"Shut up, creep."
"Laura!"
"Sorry, Mum."
"Laura, Percy, please cooperate." Penelope pleaded with her children. "It would be so darling if you danced together. It's Aunt Ginny's wedding reception, do it for her."
"No way, Mum."
Hermione wasn't having that much fun at the reception, either. She sat at the table, swirling some wine around in her glass.
She had no one to dance with. And no one to talk to either, since all the other bridesmaids were dancing with their husbands or boyfriends. Heck, all the girls were, even Laura and Percy Jr. were dancing, scowling at each other.
The only person who wasn't dancing was Ron. But she couldn't talk to him just yet. She still had feelings for him, certainly, but she still hadn't got over some of the harsh things they had said to each other. Their row had been pointless, and childish, but cruel. She had felt terrible afterwards, but he had been gone before she could say anything.
But, he had said he was sorry.
Why had he left? Why hadn't he dropped by? If he hadn't done something as stupid as that, they probably would still be together.
"This is pointless!" she told herself. "Why don't we just make up and get on with it? " Had it been too long? Had Ron's absence no matter how silly and stupid it might have been wrecked their relationship?
She sighed. It was going to be a long evening.
A/N: What do you think?
Hermione had done a lot of thinking since Ron's arrival, thinking about what was between them. That little conversation had patched things up, sort of, but not entirely. They were friends, she guessed, but it was awkward. If only they hadn't mucked things up so much! She would owl him; she had to owl him.
She would see him tonight; there was no rush.
* Harry looked at Ginny. The wizard who was performing the ceremony was telling them their positions and such and was supposed to be giving them tips on the wedding, but all Harry could think of was, "She's going to be mine, she's really going to be mine." Ginny was looking at him and smiling like he was the best person in the world which, made him feel higher and prouder then anything.
He smiled at her, and she gave him a smile back, and a wink. He felt his heart drop, and he felt feverish and giddy at the same time. * "Try not to look at him," Hermione told herself for the umpteenth time. She tried to stare directly at the minister, but found it was becoming increasingly more difficult. The fact that Ron was staring directly at her during the whole rehearsal wasn't helping much either.
She shivered, and drew her cloak around her.
The minister said the final words, and she grasped Ron's arm to head back down the aisle, ignoring the spark their clash of skin created. * Heidie Weasley looked down the table and sighed. This rehearsal dinner was boring her out of her mind! She loudly took a long slurp of her drink, and looked at the people sitting around her.
Her cousins stared back at her, bored as she was.
She was seated next to Gertie, who was her age. Heidie didn't particularly care for Gertie, who was the most boring girl she believed she'd ever met. All Gertie talked about was dolls, and Heidie loathed dolls.
She decided to give it a try anyway, and poked Gertie with her fork.
"Ow!" Gertie looked up sharply. "Heidie! What are you doing?"
Heidie decided to start out the conversation. "So," she said, stirring her mashed potatoes with a fork. This called for drastic measures. She was going to have to resort to the worst conversation topic she knew of. "Got any new dolls recently?"
Heidie knew at once she had made a mistake. Gertie squealed and proceeded to talk about dolls with gusto.
"I got this one doll from Grandmummy Clearwater and she is the most precious thing! Her name is Barbie and she has many outfits. Why, I own forty-two shirts, twelve pairs of shoes,"
"So much for that," thought Heidie glumly, and staring at her food, she suddenly had inspiration. She took her spoon, and Gertie's spoon, and proceeded to shape her mashed potatoes into a big mound. She took her peas and started sprinkling them on top, to form a happy face.
"Fifteen hats, forty dresses, five pairs of sunglasses," Gertie continued, not noticing Heidie wasn't showing the least bit of interest in the conversation.
Heidie attacked her turkey next, crumbling it up to form what was really a mound of meat, but was a rose in her eyes. She made one on either side, and added the finishing touch, her name, written in gravy.
"Heidie!" her mum said sharply. "Stop playing with your food! And stop slouching over!"
Gertie kept blabbering on about dolls. Heidie sighed, and was about to fall asleep in her seat, when she suddenly remembered something very important. Her father and uncle had a brand new invention, Everlasting, Stretchy Licorice, and a bunch of it currently resided in her pocket.
She looked at her mother a couple of seats over, who was dealing with a very naughty Fred Jr. She made sure her mother wasn't looking, and dove under the table.
She made sure to pinch Percy Jr.'s leg as she crawled by, as he was the cousin she loathed the most. He looked wildly under the table, but she had already continued on her journey.
She heard a glass tinkle above her, and heard the room quiet down. To her surprise, the feet she was directly in front of rose, and she heard a male voice speak.
"Um, as the best man, I suppose I should give a short speech, today. So, um- "
Heidie recognized the voice as Uncle Ron's, and suddenly, a wicked plan formed in her mind. She quickly pulled it out and proceeded in tying Uncle Ron's legs together.
"Heidie? Where's Heidie?" she heard her mother's voice faintly, and stated tying quicker.
She diligently worked through his short speech and, as everyone was clinking glasses in celebration of the wedding tomorrow, she pulled back with a sigh of contentment.
Uncle Ron moved back towards his chair, and promptly fell over with a crash.
Heidie crept back to her seat, to the sounds of her relatives shrieking, her mother screaming her name, and more swear words then she had ever heard in her life.
*
Hermione watched as Ron toppled over and noticed his legs were tied together. She gave a small gasp and rushed over to him, without even realizing what she was doing.
"Ron, Ron, are you all right? Are you hurt?"
Ron got up, muttering a string of curse words.
"Do you want some ice, Ron? Is it bad?"
"I'll survive," Ron said, grunting. "What the bloody hell is on my leg?"
Hermione stood up, shaken. "C'mon, Hermione," said George, laughingly. "It's just only going to be a bruise."
Charlie put his hand over his heart. "Well, when one's in love, every cut on their love is as if a cut unto themselves."
Hermione turned bright red, and muttered something about going to the ladies' room. She stared at herself in the mirror, thinking about what they said. "Just ignore them, Hermione," she said aloud. But she couldn't help wondering if their words were true.
* "Hermione! Hermione! Hermione!"
Hermione Granger woke up to see Ginny shaking her by the shoulders looking very frantic.
"Hermione!"
"What?" asked Hermione groggily.
"Come on!" said Ginny, giving her another hard shake.
"Ginny," said Hermione, closing her eyes. "I love you to death, and I realize that this is your wedding day, but if you don't get your hands off me in the next five seconds-"
"Sorry," said Ginny, releasing her, and Hermione fell back upon her pillows. "I forgot you're not exactly a morning person."
"S'OK, Ginny," said Hermione. "I'm going to make myself some coffee."
"I already did," said Ginny. "I got up at six."
"Six?" Hermione stopped and stared at her. "As in SIX O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING?"
"Guilty," said Ginny.
Hermione reached the table, sat down and poured herself some coffee. Ginny seated herself across from Hermione. "I'm so nervous, Hermione."
Hermione reached for her hand across the table. "Don't worry Gin. You'll be lovely." Ginny smiled. * "Harry! Bloody hell, sit still!"
Harry was pacing in his flat, and Ron's eyes were following him, back and forth.
"I find it quite amusing, actually," said Fred, who was making faces in the mirror at himself. "He hasn't traveled two feet in two hours."
"How's the bump?" George went over to Ron, who uncovered a huge red welt on the side of his face.
"Damn," George said, inspecting it. "My niece got you, bad."
"And she has a death wish," muttered Ron.
He replaced the charm that his the welt from site and tried to ignore Fred's comments to his mirror.
"Looking good, Fred, c'mon boy, you're fine!"
Ron decided to think of better things instead, such as, Hermione. He always got a feeling of guilt when thinking about her. Their row had been pointless anyway. They had started talking about money, future, etc. and had just, well, blown up at each other. Ron could barely even remember why exactly. But he did remember Hermione screaming that he was " a selfish, horrible, disgusting pig," and he not calling her very nice things either.
They probably would have got over it, and kept their relationship intact if Ron hadn't done one of the dumbest things he ever did.
He volunteered to go back to full Auror duty.
After the war, it had been so peaceful that all Aurors except for a handful were dismissed from duty. They were required to return to duty if something came up, but other than that, were free to live their lives. They were allowed to return to full duty if they chose, so that was what Ron had done.
He had left the very next day, never even telling Hermione where he was going. He tried to convince himself over and over that he was doing the right thing, that they needed a break. They had been fighting so frequently, and he was frustrated. But deep down, he knew he had done one of the most stupid things he had ever done in his life. And he still loved her.
He had run away. And he had missed her like hell the whole time.
*
"Oh, Ginny!"
Ginny Weasley sat in a chair in front of a mirror, dressed in her wedding dress and veil. Her eyes twinkled and her red hair cascaded down her back.
She couldn't believe it. She was going to be Mrs. Harry Potter.
* Harry Potter stood at the altar, a knot in his stomach and a lump in his throat. He looked at Ron, who was at his side. Ron gave him an assuring grin and a nod. Harry watched Heidie prance down the aisle, throwing flowers and whispering, "Happy wedding day!" Gertie followed after her, her Barbie doll in her basket, throwing petals either sides.
Harry then watched Collin make his way down the aisle, scowling in his suit, carrying a ring on a pillow. Harry and Ginny had decided on having a Muggle wedding, so the boys wore tuxedos and the girls long, flowing dresses.
Harry heard the wedding march play, and his heart stopped. Ginny came gliding up the aisle, escorted by her father. Her luxurious, red hair cascaded down her back, and her white silk dress seemed to make her glow. She smiled at Harry, who smiled back, even though he was shaking inside.
The bridesmaids all came up the aisle, but all Harry could think about was Ginny.
Finally Hermione came, and Ron sucked in his breath. Harry felt sorry for his best friends. He knew they hadn't meant for that argument to happen, and that they hadn't really meant the awful things they had said, but it had ruined their relationship. They could barely look each other in the eye now, and Ron's absence had only made it worse.
* "Do you, Harry James Potter, take Virginia Elizabeth Weasley to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," he whispered.
"And do you, Virginia Elizabeth Weasley, take Harry James Potter, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
They exchanged rings, shakily, and smiled at each other.
"You may kiss the bride."
All conscious thoughts disappeared from Harry's thoughts as he kissed Ginny. * "No, way." Laura Weasley shook her head vigorously at her mother.
"I am not dancing with Percy."
"Don't look at me," scowled Percy Jr. "You think I want to dance with you?"
"Shut up, creep."
"Laura!"
"Sorry, Mum."
"Laura, Percy, please cooperate." Penelope pleaded with her children. "It would be so darling if you danced together. It's Aunt Ginny's wedding reception, do it for her."
"No way, Mum."
Hermione wasn't having that much fun at the reception, either. She sat at the table, swirling some wine around in her glass.
She had no one to dance with. And no one to talk to either, since all the other bridesmaids were dancing with their husbands or boyfriends. Heck, all the girls were, even Laura and Percy Jr. were dancing, scowling at each other.
The only person who wasn't dancing was Ron. But she couldn't talk to him just yet. She still had feelings for him, certainly, but she still hadn't got over some of the harsh things they had said to each other. Their row had been pointless, and childish, but cruel. She had felt terrible afterwards, but he had been gone before she could say anything.
But, he had said he was sorry.
Why had he left? Why hadn't he dropped by? If he hadn't done something as stupid as that, they probably would still be together.
"This is pointless!" she told herself. "Why don't we just make up and get on with it? " Had it been too long? Had Ron's absence no matter how silly and stupid it might have been wrecked their relationship?
She sighed. It was going to be a long evening.
A/N: What do you think?