Here is chapter Four ^_^ Thank you for reviewing. As usual, I own nothing.
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Harry folded his arms and leaned against the wall outside Gringotts. He watched a shop across the road, ignoring the gasps and crowds surrounding him.
"Look, it's Harry Potter!" "Harry Potter? Where! Oh Merlin, it is him!" "I want his autograph!" "I wish he could give me a few Seeker tips!" "Mommy, who's that man?" "That's Harry Potter, sweetheart. The Boy-Who-Lived. And then the Boy-Who-Lived-Again. He defeated You-Know-Who!" "Mommy, is he special?" "Yes, darling."
Harry glanced over at the mother and her young child who were staring at him. The small boy stared up at him in awe. Harry grinned and waved at the little boy, before spotting Hermione leaving the shop.
"Hermione!" He jogged over, and the crowd went back to its business. "Hermione!" He waved to catch her attention.
"Oh, there you are! Hi Harry!" Hermione spun around and Harry stopped. Her face was so happy, lit up in excitement.
Is this for me?
"Harry, I just bought my dress! I'm so happy!" Hermione gushed, not noticing Harry's small frown.
Guess not. One day, I want her to look at me that way and tell me she's preparing for our wedding. He smiled at the thought.
"Want to get something to eat?" he asked. "Or a drink? You can tell me what I've missed." He escorted her to a small cafe across the road, and they sat down.
"Two lattes," ordered Hermione. They appeared almost instantly, and Hermione wrapped her hands around the cup. "Harry, will you be staying here for the wedding?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he promised, picking up his cup. "If I knew before yesterday, I'd have been here sooner."
"Thank you Harry. This means so much for me. Ron, Ginny, Lavender, Neville, and Trinity of course," she laughed. "All the Weasley's. They'll all be there. And I wanted you to be there too."
"Trinity? How is she?" Harry smiled at the memories of her christening, him being named the godfather, Lavender and Hermione godmothers.
"She's grown a lot, and is as curious as ever. She misses her Uncle Harry, of course." Hermione eyed him over the cup. "You can't be over here and not see her."
"I was planning on going to see her anyway. Brought presents for her."
"And none for me?" Hermione faked anger and pouted. "You forgot me?"
"No, course not. You get another guest for the wedding." He grinned and avoided her slap. "Don't worry. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, yes?"
Hermione nodded and sipped her drink.
"Here. Something blue." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box, tossing it to Hermione. She put her cup down and picked it up, staring at it curiously.
"Harry? What is it?"
"Open it and find out!" He gave her the grin that he was famous for, and she sighed. Opening it, a gasp escaped her.
"Oh, Harry!" She carefully picked up the two blue topaz earrings, examining them carefully. Two tear drop shapes, with silver posts.
"Do you like them?" he asked anxiously, watching her face. She carefully put them back and nodded.
"They're perfect. Oh thank you so much!" She reached over, carefully avoiding the drinks, and hugged him. "But they must have cost you so much!"
"Only the best for you," he smiled. Hermione sat back down and carefully tucked them inside her bag. The words made her remember when Draco had proposed.
~Flashback~
"Marry me."
"What?" They had been out on a boat ride when Draco had said that.
"Marry me," he repeated, taking her hand. "Hermione, will you marry me?"
Hermione closed her eyes nervously, and when she opened them, Draco was on one knee, holding up a beautiful ring in a velvet box.
"Of course I'll marry you!" She dropped to the floor and hugged him tightly. They kissed, and then Draco slipped the ring onto her finger.
"I love you," they said at the same time, laughing. Hermione stared at the ring, and then stared at Draco, shocked.
"How much did this cost? I can't take such an expensive thing!"
"Yes, you can, love. Only the best for you, for my Hermione."
~End Flashback~
"Hermione? 'Mione?" Harry's hand waved in front of her face, bringing her back to reality. She shook her head slightly and raised her cup to her lips.
"Sorry Harry. Was miles away."
"I noticed," he smiled, taking her hand. She stared at him. "Hermione, I want to know if you have any doubts about this wedding. You deserve the best, and I don't want you doubting anything," he said earnestly, bringing his other hand on top of hers. She put her cup down and smiled.
"Harry, I don't have any doubts at all. Draco is the best, isn't he?" She had mistaken his words, and smiled. "He gives me everything I need. Love, comfort, security, happiness, everything."
"Good." Harry let go of her hand and finished his drink. "I don't want you regretting anything." He got up and smiled. "Here comes Ginny, with Lavender. They look angry."
"Harry James Potter! Where have you been? I have a two year old at home who keeps nagging for her Uncle Harry! When, may I ask, were you going to come and see us?" Ginny stormed over, her face angry, only the mischievous twinkle in her eye giving her away.
"Gin!" Harry enveloped her in a bear hug, ruffling her hair. "Missed you too. How's Neville and the sprog?"
"Trinity is fine. So is Neville." Ginny smiled. "It's so great to see you again!"
"Yeah Harry, we missed you. Next time you leave on tour again, make sure Oliver knows to give you days off," commented Lavender, getting a hug too.
"Will do, Lav. Will do," he promised. They all smiled and were quiet for a while.
"Well, 'Mione, we going to get these dresses?" asked Ginny excitedly. Hermione stood and finished her drink, and then remembered the earrings.
"Oh, look at these!" She put the cup down and rummaged in her bag for the box. "Harry bought them for me! Something blue, see? Aren't they lovely?!" She showed them to the other girls, who grabbed them and examined them too, before giving their verdict.
"They are so lovely, 'Mione."
"Yeah. So Harry, where's ours?" Lavender asked, poking him playfully. Harry grinned and took out two small boxes.
"Engorgio!" He increased their size and then passed one to Ginny and one to Lavender. Ginny gasped as she found a necklace in hers, her name written in tiny rubies. Lavender had a bracelet, what looked like many shells joined together, but were actually many shell-shaped semi-precious stones. She kissed it.
"It's my good luck bracelet now," she giggled, slipping it on. "Thanks Harry!"
"Harry, come with us." Ginny grabbed his arm and started towing him towards the dress shop, Hermione and Lavender following. "We need a mans opinion of the dresses."
"Good idea! I can't ask Draco, he's not to see it until the wedding!" Hermione grabbed Harry's other arm and led him enthusiastically to the shop.
"Whoa, hold on there." Harry stopped and pulled himself out of their grip. "What am I doing and where am I going?"
"You're coming with us..." started Ginny.
"...to tell us what you think..." said Hermione slowly.
"...of the dresses," finished Lavender. Harry grinned and nodded.
"Alright then." He shrugged. "I can do that." Just tell them they look lovely. That's easy. He followed them into the shop and was stunned by the overpowering sense of white. He blinked, adjusting to the light in the shop.
"Are they ready? Thanks!" Hermione spoke to the witch at the counter, and then held out her arms to get the dresses. "Thank you so much!" she smiled, holding her arms out to Ginny and Lavender. "Take yours."
Ginny took hers off the top and held it up against herself. "What do you think?" she asked Harry. He stared. He then stared at Lavender, who had done the same.
"Wow," was all he said. Ginny and Lavender smiled smugly at each other.
"Wait until you see Hermione's dress. 'Mione, hold it up," said Lavender. Hermione did as ordered, and Harry stared in awe. The dress was perfect.
"It, it's perfect, 'Mione. You'll all look amazing." He smiled happily, and Hermione saw a glimpse of the boy before the war, a brief memory of Hogwarts.
"Harry, do you want to come back with me?" she asked, hoping to find out what was bothering Harry. "I mean, there's only two weeks before the wedding, and then we go for our honeymoon. I won't be able to see you." She meant it in a sincere, friendly way, but Harry smiled, his heart turning somersaults.
"Sure," he smiled. Lavender slapped his arm.
"Harry," she scolded, "you're getting too American. I know it's a lovely place, but remember, you're English." She smiled. "I love the shopping in America! I did a photo shoot there a few weeks back and was allowed time to shop." She gave a Slytherin-esque smirk. "Needless to say, they regretted it."
"That's where we're going on holiday next month," said Ginny, carefully folding her dress over her arm to keep it off the floor. "Two weeks in Florida. We're going to take Trinity to Disneyland."
"She'll love it there." Harry held the door open for the three to leave the shop. "I went there to do a Quidditch display. Trinity will have so much fun there."
"Really? Thanks Harry. I was worrying in case she wouldn't enjoy it." Ginny left the shop first, followed by Lavender and Hermione.
"We're going to take the dresses to Ginny's," explained Lavender. "Then I've got a show." She held the dress carefully against herself and apparated.
"Coming?" Ginny asked Harry, before she apparated. Hermione smiled at Harry, and they both apparated.
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"Unci Hawwy!" As soon as Harry appeared in front of Ginny's house, a red-headed child hit him and clung to his legs. "Unci Hawwy!"
"Hi Trini!" Harry picked her up and threw her up in the air, catching her and then hugging her. "Ginny, you weren't kidding about her wanting to see me," he smiled cheekily.
"Hi Harry!" Neville was stretched out on the sofa. Ginny and Hermione sat on the floor, gossiping. Lavender had already apparated.
"Hi Nev." Harry sat down in an armchair and
sat Trinity on his lap. "Hey Trini, guess what?
Uncle Harry's brought presents for his little goddaughter." He resized
some boxes from his robes and presented them to her. Each one was wrapped brightly with a colourful
bow, and Trinity clapped her small hands excitedly.
"Watch she doesn't try to eat any of the paper" warned Ginny from where she was curled up on the rug. Hermione was talking animatedly, making motions with her hands. Harry stared at her with love in his eyes. He really did love her. It was killing him, knowing he'd have to make her so unhappy by taking her away from Draco, but he had to try.
Neville, mistaking the love for friendship, leaned over. "You've missed everything, haven't you?" he asked. Harry nodded and sat Trinity on the floor, where she was now playing with a new doll.
"Yeah. Touring is nice, quidditch is great, but it's been awful knowing what I was missing back here," he said sincerely. Neville smiled.
"Maybe you need a girlfriend to make it better," he commented. "Since I've got Ginny and Trinity, I never miss anything, because I've got it all here."
"Ginny's great," agreed Harry. "But, there is a girl I like. Maybe I'll go for it. Can't be any worse than being single, can it?" He stood up as Hermione did the same. "I hope Trinity likes her presents," he smiled. "Bye Trini!"
"Bye Trini!" waved Hermione, smiling. Trinity waved back, her hand still clutching the doll. "Bye bye Unci Hawwy, Auty Miney!"
"Aww, she's so sweet. She tries her best to say your names," smiled Ginny. Harry grinned.
"It's Hermione's fault for having such an awkward name." He avoided another friendly slap. "Sorry!" He held his hands up in surrender. "I give up!"
Hermione laughed at him. "Harry, we're not fifteen any more. Stop clowning around. C'mon, lets go. Bye Gin, bye Nev, bye Trini!"
"Don't leave it so long next time!" called Neville, trying to stop Trinity from eating her doll's hair. Ginny walked to the door with them.
"I'll be expecting another visit very soon," she smiled. "We'll keep Trinity away from your dress. And the night before your wedding, we're going out! No arguing!"
"Yes ma'am," laughed Hermione. She hugged Ginny. "Thanks Gin. See you around." She walked into the garden and apparated. Harry hugged Ginny too, and then followed Hermione home.
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