Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the story plot, JKR owns all of this, and yes I am extremely jealous.
Summary: Hermione is given the advice to write a memoir. She reflects on her past telling us the story of what her life was like after the downfall of Voldemort. No longer a little girl, the woman of 24 tells us her story. How she hid from the world but at the same time found herself falling in love. Even if she denied it from the start. ~ A glimpse into the life of 24 year old Hermione Granger as she tackles the obstacles of friends, family, work, luck, mistakes, challenges, lessons and love. Prepare yourself, you have no idea what you have just gotten yourself into.
Note: Thank you in advance for taking the time out to read this. It's a work in progress, which basically means I have no idea how often I can post. But hopefully with your support I'll find the strength to get at least one chapter up per week. I hope you enjoy this story and please when you're done review. The beginning of the story is told in first person and then it changes when we get to the actual story. Sorry if its confusing but I think you will catch on.
Chapter 18 ~ Only the Beginning
So you all must think that it ended there. After that moment we lived our lives happily ever after. Actually things didn't turn out that way. No don't fret, we still remained together. In fact I think I fell deeper in love with George as the days passed by. But something inside of me was still missing. I sat and thought about it a lot when I was alone at the flat. Ginny had moved out with Draco, and her baby was due at any time. Harry and Ron spent most of their time planning for their wedding which would be held soon. Rusty had taken the liberty to sit with me on days I felt down like this. George just didn't understand. I loved him, I loved everything about him, but I also missed the companionship of my friends. I missed them dearly. When first learned about Ron and Harry's double wedding I felt alone. I felt like I had lost my best friends. But I realize now, as the days go by, that it had nothing to do with feeling alone. I felt left out. For years we were known as the Trio, or the Dream Team. Now I felt as though I didn't belong on their team anymore. They were going off and doing something without me. I understand that people grow apart, and people change, but I thought there was something different between the three of us. I thought that we would tackle everything together. I guess I was wrong.
Days turned into weeks, and soon I found myself at Ginny's bedside staring down into the face of my new goddaughter. Serinia Nadine Malfoy. She was beautiful. George squeezed my hand a bit as we watched her toss in her crib. I couldn't help but tear. The baby seemed so pure, so innocent, and as I watched Ginny's eyes light up as she looked at her I knew that I, Hermione Granger, wanted a family as well. A large one, with many kids. I wanted to spend my life with the man I loved and raise our children together. I wanted to grow old with him and relieve the memories of the past. I remember holding Georges hand quite tightly at the moment. It was then I realized that I didn't want to be anywhere else, then with him forever. He was my one and only, and how many people can honestly say they have found that in life. I consider myself lucky.
Before we left that day Ginny reassured me that she would be up and ready to attend the double wedding in two days; I sighed. I really needed her there for me although she really didn't understand why. It would make things easier in the long run. There was a glimmer in Ginnys eye that day that I don't think I'll ever forget. It was that small glimmer that could have given away the entire secret. I left that day with George having this strange feeling in my stomach. And on the day of the wedding I learned why I had that feeling, and why I loved George so very very much.
"How do I look?" George puffed out his chest and bowed slowly causing Hermione to chuckle.
"You look quite spiffy, a bit ridiculous since you haven't brushed your hair, but spiffy nonetheless. " Hermione chuckled at the glare he shot her and pulled her long pink dress over her head.
Smoothing it down she reached for her wand and muttered a charm to style her hair. In a matter of moments her hair was swept up into a French twist, various curls hanging around her face. She had applied her makeup earlier, and so she slipped on her shoes and moved towards the mirror. She smiled at what she saw. In fact she looked lovely. Turning towards George she grinned.
"Now how do I look?" she smirked and curtseyed.
George felt his mouth go dry as he looked at her. She was breath taking. A smile formed on his face and he took a deep breath.
"Hermione, you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Your beauty captures me each time that I see you, and I-" he swallowed, his heart beating furiously inside of him. Slowly but surely he bent down on one knee, his eyes never leaving hers for a second. "Hermione Granger, would you do me the pleasure of being my wife. Of allowing me to love you for always and forever with one thing from you in return. That you love me as much as I do you."
Hermione felt her mouth drop open and the tears fall slowly down her cheeks. Her hands were shaky as he held them in his, and without another word she leaned down and embraced him tightly.
"Oh George of course I'll marry you. I love you so very very much. " Hermione pulled slightly away from him and kissed him gently. " You are everything I have ever dreamed of George, and I want to spend forever right here, with you. " she kissed him again and sighed as he pulled away. Standing her up he removed a diamond engagement ring from his pocket and slipped it on her finger.
"Now and forever." Kissing her again he glanced at the clock and a smile crept across his face. Turning back to Hermione he glanced at her dress. " Oh Mione, turn around. Theres something here on the back of your dress. "
Hermione immediately turned, her face shocked and concerned. " Did you get it?" Her voice trembled. She needed to look lovely for her friends wedding. She would die if she ruined the dress already.
George, on the other hand, slipped a clear pin from his pocket and smirked. Fastening it to the back of her dress he turned it clockwise once and pulled his hand away. "All fixed. It looks like you had a snag or something in the dress. I fixed it though, no more snag. " He smiled reassuringly hoping she didn't suspect he was lying.
Hermione stared down at her ring as they entered the hall. They were a few minutes early, but she was hoping to see Ron and Harry before the ceremony started. Her heart was fluttering with happiness. This was everything she had dreamed of. Faint music could be heard from the main ceremony room , and Hermiones head snapped up. The music that was playing was the march of the bride. Turning to George her eyes were frantic.
"George, we are late! How can we be late?!"
"Hermione, we are not late. Not late at all. I bet the organ player is practicing. Hold on one moment. Wait here." With a smile he pushed through the doors and she watched as they closed behind him.
Hermione paced slowly in the small waiting room. She glanced around and wondered just how early they were considering that no other guests seemed to be entering. Letting a small sigh escape her she moved towards a large group of photos. It wasn't until the doors to the main hall opened again did she turn around. A small house-elf stood there bowing slightly.
"Excuse me Ms. Granger, but ready for you they are."
"Pardon me? " Hermione's eyebrows furrowed.
"They are waiting for you, they are." the house elf gestured toward the room and she slowly approached it. Stepping between the two doors she felt her heart stop beating. Everyone in the hall was standing and staring at her. She could see Emily waving furiously, Ginny beaming and Draco, well, Draco was smirking but at least it looked sort of friendly. A soft hand grabbed her arm and she turned quickly. Her father stood beside her and smiled.
"May I walk you down the aisle Ms. Granger?"
"I don't- I don't understand, I'm not ready for a wedding, I didn't plan anything. " Hermiones eyes caught George standing in the front of the hall with Ron and Harry.
"George did all this for you dear. He wanted you to share this special moment with your friends." Her father smiled and guided her hand to the crook of his arm.
"Daddy, I'm not even dressed in a wedding gown." Her eyes glanced down at her dress and almost as though it had been waiting for those exact words the dress began to shimmer. Suddenly in a burst of silvery smoke Hermione glanced down at her dress again and gasped. Her once pink dress had been transformed into a beautiful white wedding gown. Again when Hermione looked up at George he only smiled.
"Come on dear, let me give you away." The music around them sounded lightly and her father guided her slowly down the aisle.
She smiled at the passing guests and grinned even more as she walked by the Weasleys and Emily. For a moment she couldn't quite grasp that this was it. George had planned this all for her, and in a few moments she would be Mrs. George Weasley. Upon reaching the front of the room her father kissed her lightly on her cheek.
"Love you dear." Her father whispered in her ear and moved towards his seat.
Hermione smiled and turned to George, a look of triumph on his face. "Couldn't wait to be with me? " Hermione arched her eyebrow.
"No, I just couldn't afford you changing your mind. I figured if I did this right now we are kind of stuck together. " He smirked as she took his hand in hers.
" Your lucky I love you so much. " She winked and turned her attention forward. This is what she had dreamed of, and as she glanced over at Harry and Ron they smiled in return. They had grown together in the past, and now they would grow together in the future.
So how does this story end? With a fairy tale dream and a sunshine ending of course. After the wedding Harry and Ron informed me that George has been planning this for quite some time. He knew that it had been bothering me that we weren't our usual dream team anymore. The pin he had placed on the back of my dress was set to transform my plain dress into a wedding gown in one hour. Surprisingly it was timed perfectly. I often asked George how he knew that the loss of Ron and Harry had been bothering me. It took me almost three months to finally get it out of him. He said that a friend of mine had told him. He said that this friend had been able to pick up on my emotions for some time now, and he knew exactly what I was feeling. I wondered for a while who it could have been, but George finally gave in and told me. Draco had informed him. At first I didn't understand why or how Draco knew, but then I realized that Draco had been there for me plenty of times during the year. In fact in some ways Draco really could be considered a friend. That notion sometimes scares me still.
Its been a year since I walked down that aisle, and I have never regretted a single moment. The days spent with George are truly wonderful, and as for the nights, well those are pretty special to. We go out a lot with Angelina and Fred. Sometimes Alicia and Oliver join us if they are in town. Other times we meet with Ron, Parvati and Harry and Lav. In fact Lavender just had her baby last month. Lily Rose Potter. Ron is the godfather and Ginny is the godmother. The more I think about us all growing up, the more I get teary. Together we will all live our lives, our children the new mission for each of us. My life has never been much of an adventure. Nor has it ever been something I like to express in a story. But sometimes things happen, as if fate brought George and I together. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I didn't go to help him at the shop that day. Or what would have happened if I didn't go with him to the café that night. I think about these things often when Im lying in bed, and every answer points in the same direction. We were brought together because we were meant to be. You, George, are the light of everything inside of me. My heart, soul and entire being lives for you. So often people spend their entire life's looking for the love that was possess for each other, and it makes me smile to know that we unconditionally love each other.
My darling George, this story was for you. A story of love and life and the words to show you, that above all, you are my one and only someone. I've spent the day wondering how to end this memoir. And as I sit here, my hand rubbing my swollen stomach, I think of the two bodies inside of me. Our sons, James and William. I realize now that there is no end to this memoir, only an introduction to our new life together. The words may end here upon this page, but our love and spectacular life is heading on, strong and vibrant. So to all of you who have taken the liberty to take a glimpse into my life, I thank you. It has truly been a wonderful experience sharing a tale of love. To you readers this is the end, but to me, its only the beginning.
May your dreams float among the stars, and may your arms be long enough to reach them.
Hermione Granger
Well my friends that it truly the end of this tale. Again, I thank you so very much for reading this story. It has been quite a journey, and I'm glad I could share it all with you. Will there be a sequel? I'm not entirely sure, but if there is of course I will let you know. Until we meet again, in the words of Ms. Hermione Granger, May your dreams float among the stars and may your arms be long enough to reach them.
Respectfully yours,
Lady Mione
