Authors Note

I really hope you are enjoying this. I know it's different from its prequel, but it's meant to be a bit darker. I know there haven't been a lot of reviews as of late and that's probably personal. I don't care about the reviews as much as I care about critiques. I want to know what you think I need to do that's better for the story. Hee, as long as I've gotten my ranting out...

I think I spoil too much so I'm not going to do it much anymore except on a chapter basis. That way, it's more fair for you.

I think if anyone's been reading this story, you know it's the wedding chapter. There are actually two.

end Authors Note

- - - - -

Chapter 20

Blessed Union of Souls, Part 1

- - - - -

Ron dipped his spoon into his gazpacho, his eyes on Harry, who was sitting across from him, two cards in his hand, his brow furrowed. "Call," he finally said, tossing the cards upward onto the table.

Ron cursed under his breath while Ginny giggled, happily flipping three cards in the middle of the table. "Sorry, Ron," she said, looking appreciatively at the cards they both had up. "I think Harry's got you beat with these three eights."

"It isn't over yet," Ron replied, watching as Harry stared at the cards in the center of the table before frowning.

"I'm thinking," he said, cutting off Ron's interruption.

"What are you three doing?" a brassy voice asked behind them.

"We're knitting sweaters," Ron said sarcastically, turning to see his elder brother striding toward them, lunch tray in arms. "What do you think we're doing?"

"We're playing cards," Ginny said, watching as Harry tossed a few plastic chips into the center of the table. "Why, I don't know. Apparently Andrew taught Harry this game a few nights ago and he can't stop playing it."

"We all have addictions," Percy said with a yawn as he sat down opposite Harry. "How do you play?"

"Two cards face down, you bet on them," Harry replied automatically as Ron called his bet and Ginny flipped the fourth card. "You bet until there's equal share amongst opponents. Then you flip three cards which you try and match with your hand. Then there's a fourth, and a fifth."

Ron grunted as he stared at his own hand sorrowfully, knowing his own pair of fours was nowhere near as beautiful as Harry's three eights. "It's poker, only more interesting," he sighed, tossing his hand away.

"Are you playing for money?" Percy asked sharply.

"Nope, and that's the beauty of it," Ginny grinned as she shuffled the cards and handed them over to Ron. "You want a go?"

"Deal me in."

As soon as Percy started into the game, Hermione entered the cafeteria, glanced around and saw the four in the back corner hovering over a table. Ginny was giggling at Harry while Ron was rolling his eyes and Percy kept staring at his hands with a blank look on his face. "What are you guys doing?"

Ron quickly avoided Hermione's eyes while Ginny turned to her. "Poker. You want in?"

Hermione shook her head quickly. "No... no thanks... I'll just go... eat outside..." And she hurried away.

Ginny turned to Ron and glared at her brother as he flipped up the three cards. "What?" he asked.

She sighed and took her lemonade and drained it. "You guys are so stupid," she finally said, setting her empty glass aside and tossing her cards in. "I fold. I give up. You just broke up with Hermione for some dumb blonde Canadian and you can hardly look her in the eye or even attempt to care, can you?"

"It's not like I don't care," Ron finally said, flipping over the fourth card. Percy, sitting next to Harry, chortled with excitement. "I just don't know how to care like that."

"You're an ass, Ron," Ginny said hotly. "How could you be so cold to her? She has given you everything and yet you... oh, you bastard."

Percy even looked stunned at Ginny's rebuke. He glanced up from his two cards, puzzled. "Why are you cursing our dear brother, Ginny dear?"

"He broke Hermione's heart," Ginny said, her throat suddenly full of emotion. She could feel the tears spring to her eyes as they met Harry's. She couldn't imagine what it would feel like if he were to meet some other girl and hurt her like that. Hermione was being awfully bold and radiant despite having the knife sticking out of her back.

Ron grunted and flipped up the last card before tossing in two more chips. "I just don't know what to say to her anymore... you know? I know things are strained between us... but..."

"Ron," Harry said quietly, catching onto Ginny's concern, "you have to think about what you just did to her. We've been together, what, ten years now? She's been our best friend from the beginning... and you just gave all of that up to be with someone for what, a month?" He, too, tossed in two chips.

Percy, sitting at his end and gloating, added his final two before Ginny said, "Cards down". His eyes were shining as he laid his two cards down on the table.

"Full house, gentlemen," he said with a grin. "And woman."

"So touched," Ginny tossed back. "I think I'm done."

"Me too," Harry said, setting his empty spoon in his bowl. "Let's pick up and go outside... it's such a fantastic day."

"Mel's out of training soon," Ron said excitedly as he happily added his barely-touched soup to the tray and carried it into the kitchen himself.

"I'm going to find and talk to Hermione," Harry said to Ginny, taking her hand and leading her to the back exit. "You go with Percy and Ron."

Ginny nodded. "All right."

He kissed her cheek before disappearing into the hallway. He didn't have to walk far. Hermione had taken a seat on the first bench. Her eyes were full of tears and she was rocking herself back and forth, her arms tightly bound around her legs.

"Hermione?" Harry asked gently.

She glanced up at him, wiping her face quickly. "You must think I'm a blubbering idiot," she said, her voice full of a depth of sadness Harry had never heard before.

He sat down next to her and gently wrapped his arms around her. "Never, ever," he assured her as she leaned heavily into him.

"Why am I so broken?" she asked, her voice going higher pitched as she struggled to control the emotions. "Why is it that every time I see him, I want to be in his arms... I just want him to know... I can't. I just can't..."

"It's all right," Harry said softly. "It's only natural after a downfall..."

"I think the knife's still in my back, Harry," she said, her voice edged with sarcasm. "What about Ginny, Harry? What about her? You two come here and all you are is friends. I haven't seen you in the same light that I see you two in at home. I'm sorry, Harry... but you need to watch your back or else... you'll be sharing my knife."

"Ginny would never do that to me," Harry said firmly.

"What makes you think you wouldn't do that to her?" Hermione asked tentatively.

"I love her," Harry said quickly. "I may not always show it, but deep down, I love her."

"Ron said he loves me," Hermione said, wiping her eyes again. "How do you think I feel now? Do you think I feel loved?"

"You're making me doubt my own feelings," Harry frowned. "I don't like it."

"You have to face it," Hermione whispered. "Or you're going to lose her. Don't let her get away... it'll destroy her."

Harry held her a moment longer before she pulled away with a heavy sigh. "Two bleeding days before the wedding and I can't get my own head out of the clouds about my personal problems," Hermione sniffled.

"You have a very important head," Harry teased.

Hermione smiled, a truly beautiful smile through all the tears. Once it disappeared, her face was shining with pain. "I just wish it was back to the way it used to be, you know? The three of us, always together. And Ginny, of course... but now, I realize that one thing will never change no matter what happens."

"What's that?" Harry asked, helping Hermione to her feet.

"I'm still in love with him."

- - - - -

Dawn shielded her eyes against the blinding sunlight, glancing around. She saw Ginny with both Percy and Ron heading toward the pool and started to join them when she caught sight of another figure near the Stables.

Draco.

It was now or never.

She moved away from her friends and toward the one person she wasn't sure she wanted to be with. "Draco!" she called out.

He turned and spotted her, a smile appearing on his face. "Hello!"

She grinned and stopped at his side. "It's yet another gorgeous day in paradise, isn't it?"

"It really is," Draco said, admiring the group of Slayers across the field, trotting across the grass on horseback. "But to tell you the honest truth, I miss home."

"I miss it too," Dawn said boldly. Draco glanced at her in surprise. "I miss the simple beauty it had to offer. I miss knowing that I'm far enough away to believe the myth that everything is all right here. I guess I just miss my old life... but it's dead now, isn't it?"

"It doesn't have to be," Draco said, not looking at her. "You can have it back again."

"If the price wasn't our daughter's life, I would choose it in a second," Dawn replied softly. She reached over and took his hand. "Draco..."

"Dawn, you don't have to-"

"But I really, really do," she replied. "I'm sorry for being so cold and distant toward you. You did the one thing I never, ever expected you to. You came for me."

"Dawnie," he said, turning to her, his hands going to her face. "I will always come for you. You're in my soul... and it'll be forever until you're out of it. I came not in defiance of my parents, but because I really, truly, deeply..."

His voice cut off with emotion as her hands covered his. "I know you do," she said, her eyes shining with tears. His thumbs brushed them away roughly. "I want her back, Draco... for the both of us. She can save us. I want her in my arms... I want you to see how truly amazing she is..."

"I promise you," he said softly, "I will never give up hope that our daughter is alive. And I promise we will get her back. I'm not letting you go in alone. I love you too damn much for that."

Dawn was crying now as he leaned in, his lips brushing hers for a moment before moving to her forehead. "Draco?" she whispered as he pulled back, his eyes full of concern as they searched her own.

"What is it Dawn?"

"When we do find Joy and we bring her back," Dawn said, taking a deep breath, "I want to go home."

Draco stood stunned for a brief second before a brilliant smile flashed across his face. "You do?"

"I want to go back with you," Dawn said, more force in her voice now, and with that beautiful grin Draco loved and admired. "I want us to be a real family."

He let out a small whoop and grabbed her in a crushing hug, lifting her off the ground and around in a large, wild circle. She found herself laughing too, her arms around his neck. As he lowered her, they were face to face and their lips met passionately.

It was a wonderful, soaring feeling, being back in Draco's arms. She felt exactly where she belonged. She was home again.

- - - - -

"Here we are," Xander said, holding the door open as Cho brushed past him, a large box in her arms. "I think we finally cleaned out your closets."

That was a mild understatement as the entirety of visible floor space was covered in boxes and packages, most of it from Cho's room but some of it also courtesy of wedding presents and shower gifts. She set down the box with a heavy sigh and glanced around the room, wiping her dusty palms on her jeans. "I guess so," she said admirably, glancing about.

It was a beautiful morning, Xander realized as the two locked his apartment and retreated to the cool morning air. It was also the day of their wedding rehearsal.

Cho's parents had arrived the night before. To Xander's relief, it had been the Watchers who had taken Anya under their wing to hide her from sight as her parents wandered around. Outside, the wedding planners had turned the training field into a battleground of balloons, bouquets and white chairs. A large white gazebo had been constructed overnight and dozens of workers hustled back and forth between the many vehicles parked in the driveway.

Since their grounds were being converted into a make-shift wedding chapel, the Slayers were given a three-day weekend to rest up and enjoy the major festivities. One of their very own was getting married. As was a revered Watcher.

Tara was waiting for him outside. He walked toward her, leaving Cho by the door. "Good morning!" she said, waving with her clipboard.

"Hey," he said, falling into step beside her. "How are the plans going?"

"We'll be ready by four," Tara said, checking her lists. "As for the other plans, I will not be attending the rehearsal dinner tonight as the Watchers are throwing that."

"I understand," he said with a sigh. He had really wanted Tara to be there, just as she was there all those years before.

"Other than that, we're all set," Tara said, sneaking a quick look behind them. "Your fiancee looks curious."

"I'm going," Xander said, quickly hugging her before returning to Cho, who have him a curious look.

"Where have you been?" she asked as they continued to walk away from the wedding scene.

"Just making sure everything's set for this afternoon," he replied, as they continued on their way.

"Are you sure?" she asked softly.

He turned to her, confusion clouding his eyes. "What is it, honey?"

"I just get this funny feeling..." she began, before shaking her head. "Forget it."

"We're about to spend the rest of our lives together," he said. "It'll be hard to forget."

"It's just that... do you have any... how do you say this... skeletons in your closets? You know, secrets, lies... anything? We're about to get married, Alexander Harris... and I need to know."

The first thing that popped into his head was Anya, but he quickly shook his head. "There is nothing. You don't have to worry about this, because there is absolutely nothing."

Cho's smile was genuine as she looped her arm through his, sounding relieved when she spoke next. "I'm relieved," she said, happily. "Let's go take a walk."

And they did.

- - - - -

Ginny rolled over in her bed, trying to ignore the sounds of Hermione's muffled cries. Just as the sound was starting to fade, there was a sharp knock on the door.

"Go on then," she called out in frustration as she sat up, pushing her hair away from her face.

The door creaked open and Ron peeked in. "Are you up?"

"I am," Ginny retorted, leaping out of bed and reaching for her robe. "She isn't."

Ron nodded before his eyes hesitantly flickered over to Hermione's side of the room. "I was hoping to talk to both of you, but just you is okay."

"I'd hope so," Ginny said grumpily as she left the room, locking Hermione inside. "What is it?"

"Cho's wedding present," Ron said, as they walked quietly down to the boy's room at the end of the hall. After knocking once, he opened the door and led her inside. "Percy just got an emergency call from the Ministry of Magic and Draco never came back last night..."

Sure enough, Harry was the only person in the room and he was bent over a something on the desk.

"Hey Harry," Ginny yawned as Ron stopped next to the desk. "What is it that you have to show me at the crack of dawn?"

"Crack of dawn?" Ron asked with a grin. "It's after nine o'clock!"

"It's this," Harry said, quickly glancing from Ron to Ginny. He held up a large photograph album decorated with different things. It took her breath away as she lifted page after page, with captions and artwork decorating every single photograph, all moving inside their frames.

"Wow," she breathed. "It's amazing."

"I've heard of how homesick she is," Harry explained, taking the book from her and handing it to Ron to wrap. "I figured that I could put my scrapbooking skills to good use."

"It's a definite good use," a voice said from the doorway as Draco stepped in, fully dressed, looking smug.

Ginny felt her jaw drop in surprise. "Where have you been?"

"With Dawn," Draco replied happily, going over to his neatly made bed and sitting down on it. "Nothing sick, if that's what you were wondering."

"Not at all," Ginny said, her face growing pink as she stood up. "I should probably get dressed and get breakfast too. You guys coming?"

"Yeah," Harry said quietly. "We'll meet you in about fifteen minutes?"

"Sounds good to me," Ginny said. She quickly retreated to her own room to see that Hermione had gotten up and dressed in her absence. "Good morning!"

"Hi," Hermione said softly as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

It was then that Ginny realized Hermione's outfit was different. She was actually wearing a dress, a far departure from her normal outfit of long skirts or slacks and button-down tops. It was a short dress in a fair shade of red, bringing out the shade in her hair. "I like your dress."

"Just something I picked up in New York," Hermione said, spinning once and smiling at her reflection. Her hands went to her hair, which was as wild as always. "I just need to figure out this crop."

"You will," Ginny said, her clothes gathered in her arms. "Meet you down in the cafeteria in about fifteen?"

"Sure," Hermione agreed, searching on the vanity top for her styling products.

Fifteen minutes later, Ginny entered the cafeteria. Ron was sitting momentarily with a small group of Slayers, next to Melanie. Harry and Draco had just picked up trays and were heading toward their usual table in the corner. It was then that Hermione made her entrance.

Immediately, Ron looked up, his eyes widening with surprise, his arm falling from Mel's shoulders. Melanie turned in annoyance and felt her own jaw drop. Hermione was more than just cute. This morning, she was stunning.

Ginny waited until Hermione had collected her tray before the two made their way to the back table. Ron said something to Mel and took his tray to join them. Once he reached the table, he heard Harry complimenting Hermione on the dress.

"Just a little something I picked up in New York," she said with a quiet grin. Her eyes turned to meet Ron's. His eyes showed some of the surprise at seeing one of his best friends in this new light. "Good morning."

"G-Good morning," he finally choked out, his eyes breaking contact and dropping to his bacon and eggs. "You look good."

"Thank you," she said, appreciating this gesture.

He glanced up again, his eyes searching hers. "You're welcome."

Percy suddenly entered the room, glanced around, and made a beeline for their table. "We have a problem."

"What is it?" Harry asked, sipping his orange juice.

"I've been recalled," Percy said dryly as he sat down. "There are rumors flying everywhere and the Minister himself is concerned with our safety, especially..." His eyes travelled over to Harry.

"I'm sorry, Perce, but there's no way in hell I'm going anywhere," Harry said swiftly, munching on his bacon. "No way."

"If you're looking for someone to go back to London with you," Hermione began, turning to Percy, "I'll go with you."

"You?" Percy asked, and then quickly wished he could take back his words. Of course she'd want to come.

Ron's eyes were suddenly full of alarm as Percy and Hermione made plans to leave that night. Despite Harry's protests they'd be missing Cho's wedding, Percy left to contact the Ministry and tell them that two would be returning.

Hermione glanced at her barely-touched tray and stood up, eager to go and pack. Once she'd left the room, Ron stood up, his eyes narrowed. Ginny recognized the look immediately. It was a firm, determined look.

He was going after her.

As he left, Melanie's eyes trailed him, a sinking feeling filling the pit of her stomach. Ron was going after Hermione. No matter how many time he tried to convince her they were only friends, she had her suspicions. This only confirmed them.

She rose and walked to Harry's table. "Hey," she said, sitting down without invitation. "I need to know something..."

"She's in love with him," Harry said automatically.

"And you can tell by the way he looks at her," Draco said from next to her, "he still feels for her, too."

"I thought so," Melanie said softly. "I... I have to go now."

She walked as fast as she could out of the room and stopped at the door, struggling to breathe.

Is that all she was? Just some cheap girl going for the thrill of taking someone who was already called for?

She needed to find Ron and talk about this, now.

Outside, Ron was chasing after Hermione. "Hermione! Hermione!"

She stopped and turned to face him. "Ron, what is it? I'm running short on time--"

He suddenly stopped, taking her by the shoulders. "Don't go."

"I have to go," she said, struggling to hold onto her cold confidence. "Percy needs me."

"So do Harry and I," Ron said quickly. "We've never been apart before during a crisis... ever."

"There's a first time for everything," Hermione said, detaching herself from his grasp and moving away. He stood still for a moment, oblivious to a pair of cerulean eyes staring at him from the doorway. Before he knew what he was doing, he had grabbed her again.

"No, no... you misunderstand me," he said, holding her tighter this time. "I need you... I've needed you for so long... and I never realized you were right there..."

Feeling as though she couldn't breathe, Hermione looked up into his eyes. "Ron?"

"I...I..." He couldn't find the words to apologize for what he'd done. He'd taken another girl without giving them a chance to fix their relationship. "I'm sorry."

Her eyes softened and began filling with tears. "Do you know how much it hurts to see you with her?" she asked, her voice tight with emotion. "Do you have any idea how much you've hurt me?"

"I did something so horribly stupid, I know," Ron said, his own eyes pleading, "but... there's just something I want you to know before you go off away from us..."

"Ron, no," she said, pulling away from him. "I can't do this. I can't listen to you preach about her."

"I'm not," he said forcefully, pulling her back to him. "Hermione, Melanie doesn't mean half of what you mean to me... she never will. There's no comparison. There never was. She was just a perfect mistake. But you... I... I love you."

Hermione's eyes suddenly broke contact and she started coughing. "You... you what?"

"Don't go," he said, pulling her into a hug. "Please, Hermione... don't go when we need you the most."

"I'm sorry," she said, pulling back and giving him a tighter smile. "I have to go..."

"But--"

"It doesn't matter if you love me," she said, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter how much you apologize. You already broke me. It can't get fixed just like that. I'm already broken..."

Ron tried reaching for her again, but she twisted out of his reach.

"Good-bye, Ron," she said quietly, walking away. She paused a moment, before turning back to him. Her eyes were full of such longing as she ran into his arms, her lips pressing to his. For a moment, she felt the best sense of bliss until she broke contact, forcing herself to walk away from him for the second time. "Bye."

Ron stood, speechless, motionless, watching as the one right thing in his life walked out of it.

- - - - -

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine," Xander said, repeating himself for what seemed like the ten thousandth time that afternoon. "I'm just nervous."

"You sure?"

"Willow!"

"Just checking."

"You guys set?" Buffy asked, peering around the corner to see Xander tugging at a necktie Willow was tying ceremoniously around his neck. "Cho wants a quick word with you Xan."

Xander gave Willow a tense smile and straightened his tie. "How's it look?"

"Peachy," Willow said, watching as Xander left. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay," Buffy said with a sigh, dropping down onto the bench next to her. "I just dropped Percy and Hermione off at the airport. Nothing, not even wild horses, could hold those two back."

"Cho's gonna be bummed and disappointed," willow sighed.

"What are we gonna do otherwise?" Buffy asked, her own voice as depressed.

"Guys? Guys?" A voice was filtering down the hall. It was laced with panic.

"That's Tara," willow said in surprise as both she and Buffy rose and went into the hallway. "Tara?"

"Oh, Willow, Buffy, thank God..." Tara gasped, running at them, her eyes full of anxiety. "We have a problem."

Outside in the courtyard, Xander saw Cho underneath the awning, her mother tugging at her long raven hair. "Hi."

"I'll leave you two be now," Cho's mother said, giving him a quick hug before disappearing.

"What is it?" he asked her, taking her hand.

Cho glanced up at him, looking extremely nervous. "I don't know... I just get the feeling that something's about to go wrong."

"Don't get that feeling," Xander said, squeezing her hand softly. "It's just nerves."

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice even trembling.

"Positive."

She let out a long breath and tried to smile, but it turned into more of a grimace. "Let's get this over with before everyone starts to wonder why we're not at our own rehearsal."

"Right," Xander said, pulling her hand and leading her into the pavilion where the others were gathered. He saw Buffy standing by the platform, her eyes full of anxiety. "I hope," he muttered under his breath.

With nothing to do but wait and sit, Tara joined Willow in the white chairs. "You okay?"

"It's how I always invisioned my own wedding to be," Willow said, her voice still stretched with anxiety. "Dangerous and full of deceptions."

Tara leaned over and took her hand. "Hey, it'll be okay... you know?"

"I'm trying to," Willow replied with a weak smile. "I just don't know how it's going to be all right... for all we know, Anya's just waiting to barge in."

"It's going to be all right because we believe it, right?" Tara asked her lightly.

"I... I guess..."

Someone behind them let out a soft shushing noise so they both turned back to the platform, where the bridesmaids and groomsmen were all walking down the aisle. Cho soon joined them and the Minister gave them kudos on doing it right the first time.

"Dearly beloved..."

As the Minister continued to speak, Ron glanced at Ginny and Harry, holding hands on his one side. His eyes darted to Draco and Dawn, holding hands on his other side. He glanced at his own empty hands and then up at the bridesmaid on the other side of Cho, looking ethereally lovely in her lavender gown.

As much as he wanted to say he loved her, he couldn't. The pain from watching Hermione walk out of his life was too much. She'd left with Buffy without even looking at him just an hour before, ready to go back to London.

With Percy.

He bit his lip and forced himself to pay attention.

Just as the Minister got to the vows, however, there were loud murmurs toward the back of the seats. The sound grew louder until a loud female voice demanded, "Hey! What the hell are you doing with my Xander?"

Everyone facing the pulpit turned as one, Xander reluctantly. Standing there, right beside Cho's mother, was Anya. He gulped, seeing her enraged reaction. He turned to stare at Cho, who was looking at him with a shocked look in her eyes. Stunned, she dropped his hand, taking a quick step back. "Xander? Who is this?"

He turned wordlessly to look at Anya, who walked even closer and ripped the flowers from Cho's hands. "I don't know what you're doing here, you whore... what have you done?"

"Xander?" Cho's voice was starting to fill with anger.

He turned to her apologetically, but it was enough for Cho to see the guilt in his eyes. "You liar," she whispered, her voice devestated. "You told me you had no skeletons..."

"I-I..." Words continued to fail him.

But Cho had had enough. She grabbed the broken bouquet from Anya and stormed up the aisle, her short skirt flashing in the bright sunlight, loud sobs bursting from her.

And chaos broke out throughout the crowd.

- - - - -

To be continued...

Anya has been discovered... can the wedding be saved?