Ron and Hermione stared at each other for several moments before his gaze turned towards the sky.
"What is he doing?" Hermione asked Ginny.
"Just wait," she replied.
Hermione looked upward at the sky, searching for whatever had diverted Ron's attention. The entire stadium gasped when fireworks were emitted into the air over the field.
A smile spread across Hermione's face at the sight of the beautiful showers of fireworks. Then, her smile faded and her jaw dropped when the fireworks formed the words "Hermione, Will You Marry Me?"
She lowered her gaze upon Ron, who was now focused on her. He blushed a bright shade of red and a lopsided smile spread across his face. Hermione was glued to the floor.
"What are you waiting for?!" Harry yelled.
"Get down there!" Ginny chimed in.
Hermione ran for the aisle and bolted down the stairs as fast as she could. She had to stop however, because there was a large crowd of Quidditch fans blocking the bottom of the stairs. Hermione frantically looked back up at Ginny and threw up her hands in exasperation. Ginny pointed at Hermione and yelled "Witch!"
"Oh!" Hermione cried. With a loud pop she was standing on the side of the Quidditch pitch. She ran towards Ron, tears staining her cheeks, and leapt into his arms. He swung her around before setting her back on her feet. He knelt down on one knee and pulled a small, black, velvet box from his bright orange robe.
"Hermione, will you be my wife?" he asked.
Hermione smiled a watery smile. "Of course," she said. Ron gently placed the gorgeous ring on Hermione's delicate finger before standing up. Hermione threw her arms around his neck and Ron kissed her deeply while the stadium cheered louder than when the teams were playing.
"Don't be nervous," Hermione said, straightening Ron's tie.
"I'm not," Ron lied. "But what if they hate me?"
Hermione kissed his cheek. "They won't. It's impossible." Ron blushed.
Hermione took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. A woman with bushy brown hair that had hints of gray in it answered the door with a smile.
"Hello, Mum," Hermione said sweetly.
"Hello, Dear," Hermione's mother said as she pulled her into a hug. Her eyes darted to Ron. "You must be Ron."
Ron smiled. "Yes, ma'am." Much to Ron's surprise, he was pulled into a warm hug from Mrs. Granger as well.
"Come in, dears. Hermione, your father is in the study and dinner is almost ready." Having said that, Mrs. Granger scurried into the kitchen, leaving Hermione and Ron in the parlor.
"Not so bad, eh?" Hermione asked.
Ron chuckled. "No, guess not."
"Well if it isn't my lovely daughter," Mr. Granger said, striding out of the study into the living room. Hermione met her father and they hugged. "Ron, I suppose," Hermione's father said, holding out his hand.
Ron took his hand and gave him a firm handshake. "Ron Weasley. Nice to meet you, sir."
Hermione's father stared at Ron, making him uncomfortable. "You have magnificent teeth," he finally said.
Ron blushed. "Thank you."
"Did you have braces as a child?" Mr. Granger asked.
"Braces? What are br--"
"I think dinner is ready!" Hermione interjected loudly, desperate to change the subject. She knew that if her father found out that Ron knew nothing about Muggle dentistry that they would be stuck there all night, listening to her father talk about the study of teeth.
They had grilled chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes for dinner. Even thought Ron tried with all his might to eat slowly, he was still the first done. He fidgeted with his napkin and slowly sipped at his water.
"So, Ron," Hermione's mother began. "Hermione has told us quite a lot about yourself, but what about your family?"
Ron, pleased at the break in the silence, said, "Well, I have five older brothers and one younger sister."
"Ginny just graduated from Hogwarts this year," Hermione added.
"Oh, yes, I've heard you speak of her," Mrs. Granger said. "She sounds lovely."
Ron nodded. "My mum takes care of the Burrow while my dad works for the Ministry of Magic in the Misuse of--" he stopped. Hermione's parents looked thoroughly perplexed. "He works for the Wizard Government," Ron simply said.
"That's wonderful," Mrs. Granger said as she stood up. "I hope everyone left room for pie!" She returned from the kitchen with an apple pie, which was devoured in a few minutes.
"So," Mr. Granger exhaled. "What's new with you, dear?"
Hermione sat up straight in her chair. "Well, dad, that's why I invited Ron to have dinner here tonight." Mr. and Mrs. Granger both looked at Ron, causing him to blush to the roots of his flaming hair.
"We have some exciting news," Hermione said.
"Yes?" Hermione's mother inquired.
"Mum, dad," Hermione said as she took Ron's hand in hers. "Ron and I are getting married."
The room was silent. The only thing that could be heard was the heavy breathing of Ron and a slight squeak from Hermione's mother.
Hermione sighed. "I know that we're young and we haven't been on our own for very long but we both--"
She was cut off by her mother crying, "Honey, this is wonderful news!"
Hermione smiled and Ron exhaled the breath he had been holding. They all stood up and Hermione's mother hugged the both of them and Ron shook Mr. Granger's hand again.
An hour later, Ron and Hermione left the Granger house and apparated to then entrance of St. Mungo's.
"Can't you come back to my flat with me?" Ron asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes playfully. "You know I have to get up early, Ron."
"I can keep you up all night so you won't have to wake up at all," Ron said, his eyebrows lifted, making him look mischievous.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, teasingly punching his arm. "How dare you suggest that."
Ron chuckled. "It was worth a shot. Couldn't hurt to try."
"Goodnight," Hermione said after she stood on her toes to kiss him on the cheek.
Ron blushed. "Goodnight, Mione." He watched Hermione walk towards the door until she turned around and called out to him.
"Ron?"
"Yeah?"
Hermione chuckled. "Try again tomorrow night." She winked at him then turned around and walked through the doors of St. Mungo's. She heard Ron laugh and say "Most excellent" before he apparated.
"How did it go last week?" Ginny asked.
Hermione swallowed her coffee and said, "Great. Ron was nervous, but he soon found out that there was no reason to be. My parents are very excited."
Ginny smiled, then looked out the window of the Three Broomsticks. Hogsmeade was bustling with shoppers and local townspeople.
"How is the job hunt going?" Hermione asked.
Ginny snorted. "Still looking for something permanent. Right now I'm working for Dad and the ministry shuffling through papers and taking notes for him. It's dreadfully boring."
Hermione gave Ginny a sincere smile. "You'll find something you like."
"I hope so," Ginny said. "Well, enough about me. Let's talk about the wedding!"
Hermione's face flushed at the thought of her and Ron's wedding. "Well, we decided to have a Muggle wedding."
"Interesting," Ginny said, sipping her coffee. "What are they like?"
"Well, from what I've heard from your mum, they're not much different from a wizard wedding," Hermione responded.
"I'm sure it'll be lovely," Ginny said.
"Of course it will," Hermione said. "Because you're going to be my maid of honor!"
Ginny squealed in excitement. "Really?!"
"Who else would it be?! You're like a sister to me, Ginny,"
"I'm honored," Ginny said, dabbing at her tearful eyes with her napkin.
The two of them talked and laughed for several more minutes before they parted ways.
"I'm meeting Ron at Honeydukes soon," Hermione said.
"Tell him I said hello," Ginny added.
"I will," Hermione said. She left the Three Broomsticks and headed down the street. However, when she rounded the corner she bumped into someone, causing them to drop their belongings.
"Oh my!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'm so --" she stopped and her eyes automatically narrowed.
"Watch where you're going, Granger," Draco Malfoy said, half laughing.
Hermione was about to speak but she heard someone's voice behind her.
"Malfoy," Ron said through gritted teeth.
"Weasley," Malfoy said, menacingly. "My father told me about your recent engagement. He heard about it at the Ministry. Congratulations. Tell me something, Weasley. Do you have enough money to have a proper wedding?"
Hermione couldn't see Ron's face, but she could feel the heat on the back of her neck. Ron took Hermione's hand in his and they started to walk away.
"Weasley!" Draco shouted. Ron kept walking, his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Do us all a favor and don't have any children with that filthy mud blood!"
In a flash Ron was standing in front of Draco Malfoy, his face red to the tips of his ears. Draco did not have time to add anything else to his insult before Ron punched him hard in the jaw, causing him to fall onto the ground. Ron walked back over to Hermione, who had tears in her eyes.
"Everything's alright, Mione. Let's go."
Ron and Hermione apparated to the Burrow where they found Mrs. Weasley placing a plate of scones on the kitchen table.
"Brilliant," Ron said, eating the scones two at a time. "I wish I could stay, Mum, but I have to get to practice."
"That's alright, dear," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Dinner at my place tonight?" Ron asked Hermione.
"Yes. See you tonight," Hermione said before Ron apparated, still eating his scones.
"Well, dear, we have lots to talk about concerning this wedding," Mrs. Weasley said as she sat down at the kitchen table.
Hermione took the chair across from her. "Yes, we do."
They talked for an hour about the date, location, and preparations for the wedding.
"Then it is set," Mrs. Weasley said. "This November at the Burrow. We can make the backyard look charming with some simple charms."
"That sounds…" Hermione paused. "Magical."
The weeks flew by due to Ron and Hermione's crazy schedules. Hermione's hours at St. Mungo's became more unsteady and she had been meticulously researching a rare new illness. Ron's agenda was full with practices, games, and he was volunteering at Hogwarts once a week to teach the first years how to play Quidditch. On top of all that, Hermione and Ron had their wedding to plan. Thankfully Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Granger were more than happy to help. Before they knew it, the week of the wedding had arrived. Hermione had everything she needed, including her dress, Ginny's dress, the minister, the food for the reception, and Ron had the tuxedos for him and Harry and the rings.
Ron and Hermione had shared a quiet dinner at Ron's flat the night before the wedding, knowing that the next day was going to be chaotic.
"I cannot believe that tomorrow we'll be married," Hermione said, shifting on Ron's couch so that she was now facing him.
Ron kissed the top of her head. "I know. Who would have guessed that we'd be married when we were back at Hogwarts?"
Hermione laughed. "Apparently everyone would have!"
"What?" Ron asked.
"I've had so many people tell me that it was obvious that you and I fancied each other all the way back in fourth year."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Well that would have been a lot of help back then."
"Oh Ron," Hermione sighed. "It all worked out. We're getting married tomorrow. We're going to be together forever. We didn't need anyone to tell us that. We figured it out for ourselves."
Hermione kissed Ron passionately and it escalated to the point where their hands were roaming underneath their clothes and their breathing was becoming heavy.
"Ron," Hermione said breathlessly.
"Ron," she repeated. "Ron!"
"What?" "I have to go," she said, taking notice of Ron's disappointed look. "Your mum is expecting me to stay at the Burrow tonight so I can get ready for the wedding in the morning."
"Then I'll come with you. We can stay in my old room." Ron suggested.
"No!" Hermione exclaimed. "You cannot see the bride before the wedding." Hermione smiled, kissed Ron on the lips, and with a loud pop, she was gone.
"Muggles and their traditions," Ron said before he fell asleep on the couch.