Hermione awoke early the next morning, waking Ginny as well.

"Hermione," Ginny said groggily. "It's early."

"Sorry," Hermione whispered. "Go back to sleep, Gin." Hermione walked noiselessly out of Ginny's bedroom and made her way down to the Weasley kitchen. The sun had barely risen and Hermione was the only person awake at the Burrow. She conjured up some coffee and drank it while looking out the window in the kitchen. The leaves on the trees surrounding the Weasley property had turned orange and yellow and were scattered among the ground, occasionally leaving it to fly in the wind. Hermione knew she would not be able to fall back asleep, so she picked up her book and settled into the armchair in the living room. When she turned to the page she had book marked, a slip of paper fell onto her lap.

Mione,
Can't sleep? I know you so well. See you this evening.
Love,
Ron

Hermione smiled and tucked the paper into her book and began reading where she had left off. An hour later, Mrs. Weasley came into the kitchen and began to prepare breakfast, unaware of Hermione's presence.

"Good morning," Hermione said to her.

"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley dropped two pieces of toast on the floor. "Hermione, dear, you scared me!"

Hermione walked over to her and picked up the toast and placed it in the trash can. "I'm sorry," she said.

"How long have you been up?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Hermione sighed. "An hour or so."

"You're going to be exhausted later on," Mrs. Weasley declared.

"I'm just so excited," Hermione said.

Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Are you nervous, dear?"

Hermione looked confused. "Why would I be nervous?"

"You know," she leaned in closer. "The wedding night."

Hermione laughed. "Oh! Er--no, I'm not nervous. There's no reason to be," she added, blushing.

Mrs. Weasley's eyes opened wide then she nodded her head. "Oh, I understand now."

It was not long before the inhabitants of the Burrow were roused and fed. After Ginny had showered, Hermione stepped into the steamy bathroom. She turned the faucet on and the bathtub began to fill with hot water and fragrant bubbles. She wiped the condensation off of the mirror with her palm and stared at herself.

"Hermione Weasley," she whispered. "Mrs. Hermione Weasley." She turned the faucet off, pulled off her nightgown, and let her hair down. She returned to stand in front of the mirror.

She smiled. "Mrs. Ronald Weasley," she murmured. Sunlight streamed in through the window in the bathroom, enveloping her body in warm rays. Hermione closed her eyes and sank deeper into the bathtub, soaking her hair. After she had bathed, Hermione dried herself and put on jeans and a sweatshirt, a smile still on her face.

Ron slept in late the next day, only to be awoken by Errol crashing into his bed, a note tied around his leg. Ron untied the string and unfolded the letter.

Wake up and get ready, Ronald!
Love, Mum

"How does she know these things?" Ron thought. He turned over the letter and it read 'Because I'm your mother!'. Ron laughed as he got out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen. He managed to stuff two pieces of toast into his mouth at the same time and washed it down with pumpkin juice. Ron grabbed a towel off the floor in his bedroom and walked into the bathroom. He placed the towel on the rack attached to the wall, and stood in front of the mirror.

He cleared his throat. "I do," he said. "I do," Ron repeated, in a deep voice that sounded fake.

He sighed and smoothed his fiery hair with his palms. "I do," he said. A grin spread across his face and he stripped and stepped into the shower. When Ron was done he moved into his bedroom, opened his wardrobe, and removed the tuxedo that was hanging in there. He laid it on the bed and dried himself off with his towel. Ron was buttoning up his shirt when he heard two loud pops in the other room. Ron peeked his head out of his bedroom.

"Fred! George!" he exclaimed.

"Ickle Ronnie!" the twins said in unison.

Ron glowered at them. "What are you doing here?"

"Mum sent us to come get you," George said.

"Yeah, we're your chaperones," Fred added.

"Why do I need chaperones?" Ron asked.

Fred chuckled. "Mum doesn't want you apparating anywhere that would allow you to see Hermione."

"Yeah," George said. "She said something about Muggle brides and not letting the groom see them before the wedding."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Ok, I got it." After Ron gathered up everything he needed, the three of them apparated into Ron's old bedroom.

"Now you stay here until one of us comes to get you," Fred said.

"Alright, alright," Ron said, throwing up his hands in mock-defeat.

The twins exited the room and Ron was left alone, looking around at his old bedroom. He remembered putting up the Chudley Canons posters on the walls. On his shelf, he had all of his old text books, collecting a nice amount of dust. He strolled over to his desk and opened the third drawer, which was full of letters from Hermione. Ron sat down in his chair and went through them one by one. He came across a letter that Hermione had sent him the summer after fifth year.

Ron,
How are you? I'm doing fine myself. I am, however, terribly worried about Harry being with his horrid family over the summer. I wish there was something we could do for him. Also, I miss you tremendously. I never did tell you how proud I was of you for becoming a prefect. In my opinion, there was no better candidate for the job. Enough rambling. Write back as soon as you can!
Love,
Hermione

Ron put the letters back in the drawer and ambled over to his bed. It was the same bed with the bright orange Chudley Canons sheets. The same bed that he would lay down on at night and stare at the ceiling. He remembered laying there and thinking of Hermione. He used to wonder if she was thinking about him late at night. He had always hoped she was. He was on his back, staring at the ceiling, when George barged into his room. Ron bolted upright.

"Is it time?" Ron asked anxiously.

George nodded. "Scared?" Ron smoothed his tuxedo.

"No way." Ron, George, and Fred made their way outside to the backyard. Ron was amazed at how stunning the yard looked. There were about one hundred white chairs, already filled with guests, set up in ten rows on either side of the aisle, which was lined with rose petals. Ron knew the rose petals were Hermione's idea. Hermione's parents were in the front row, along with Ron's family. Ron saw Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall chatting with each other in the second row. Lavender Brown, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Neville Longbottom were all together in the third row. The setting sun cast a tint of orange on the nearby lake. Ron took his place at the front of the gathering, under the trellis lined with ivy.

"Mr. Weasley," the minister said.

"Hello, sir," Ron said, shaking his hand.

"Let's get started, shall we?" the minister asked.

Ron frowned. "Let's wait a few more minutes. My best man isn't here yet." Ten minutes passed and Ron saw Ginny at the other end of the aisle, searching for Harry. Finally, Ginny gave Ron an exasperated look and Ron nodded.

"Ok," Ron said to the minister. "Let's start."

The string quartet began to play and Ginny started walking down the aisle alone. When she got to the middle of the walkway a loud pop resonated through the air and Harry stood there, straightening his tuxedo jacket. Ginny smiled and took Harry's outstretched arm and they made their way to the front of the congregation.

"Sorry, mate," Harry whispered. "I got stuck at the ministry and they--"

Ron did not hear a single word Harry said.

Harry leaned closer. "Ron?"

Ron stared fixatedly at Hermione. "She's beautiful."

Hermione, on the arm of her father, paced down the aisle line with rose petals. All eyes were on hers, but her eyes were locked with Ron's. Even through her white veil, Ron's sapphire eyes pierced hers. When Hermione and her father got to the end of the path, he kissed her on the cheek and sat down next to Hermione's mother.

Ron and Hermione stood in front of their family and friends while the minister recited passages that they repeated to each other.

"To have and to hold," Hermione said.

"For as long as we both shall live," Ron added.

"And now," the minister said in a loud voice, announcing to the congregation, "with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Ron took Hermione's hands in his and looked to the minister.

"You may now kiss the bride," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

The crowd clapped and cheered as Ron pulled the white veil over Hermione's face and she placed her hands on his shoulders. Ron pulled her close and they came together in a kiss that surpassed all the kisses that they had ever experienced. It was a kiss that was emblazoned with love, passion, and above all, an everlasting promise.