Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, she owns all these wonderful characters, I am just 'playing' with them

A/N: Please Read and Review, Criticisms are welcome, first fic ever.

CHP 5: Shopping for the 'perfect' dress

Hermione ran a brush through her hair, attempting to get it to behave. Seeing that it was a lost cause she gave up and set her brush down on her dressing table. 'Of all the nerve!' she thought to herself as she sat down in a huff. She was still fuming over her recent fight with Ron. She was actually angry at herself; it was the second time in a week that she had been reduced to tears in front of Ron. He hadn't deserved the verbal lashing. Sighing she slipped on her shoes and took one last look in the mirror.

'So this is as good as it is going to get.' She muttered to herself as she stood and grabbed her purse. If she didn't hurry she was going to be late. Crossing to the fire place, she lit a small fire in the grate and grabbed a handful of floo powder. She didn't feel that she was quite capable of apparating at the moment, being this angry; she would probably end up in Saskatchewan. "Diagon Alley" she said as she threw the powder into the fire.

Emerging in Diagon Alley, Hermione began scanning the crowd looking for Ginny and Mrs. Weasley. Not seeing them in the immediate crowd she walked towards Madam Malkin's.

"Hermione!" called Ginny from the door of Madame Malkin's, "Over Here!"

Hermione entered the shop and gave Ginny a small hug before greeting the rest of the party. It seemed that Harry and Ron were getting fitted for their robes as well and they were just about finished.

"Stand still young man!" said Madame Malkins to Ron, who had turned rather sharply.

"OW!" said Ron, turning bright red. He had just gotten poked by a straight pin. "If you would stay still, that wouldn't have happened Ron" said Harry in an unusually bright tone. He had just finished getting measured and was leaning back casually against the wall grinning.

"Right Harry, I'll remember that next time" said Ron drolly as he rolled his eyes.

"There now, all finished!" and with a wave of her wand, the robes that Ron had been trying magically vanished, they would be delivered with the dresses.

"Now for the young ladies" she said turning towards Hermione and Ginny.

""Wait! Harry you need to leave, you can't see my dress until the wedding!" said Ginny as she turned an awkward shade of pink. Harry merely nodded; happy that he was being spared a day of shopping. On his way out of the shop he dropped a kiss on Ginny's forehead, waiting for Ron to follow him out. Ron attempted to follow Harry but his path was blocked by a determined Mrs. Weasley.

"You go on now Harry; Ron will stay here and see that we get the rest of our shopping done."

Stifling a groan Ron turned towards his mother giving her a tight lipped smile. "Of course mum, if you want I ... I can stay" croaked Ron, seeing that he would be getting no help from Harry he turned back around and sat down in a vacant chair nearby. Maybe he could catch a nap.

"Well then, that's settled!" said Madame Malkin approvingly. "Miss Weasley if you will just follow me please?"

Ginny followed Madame Malkin to a back room to look at fabric samples. Hermione walked slowly around the shop looking at the various robes on display, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge Ron's presence.

"'Mione?" said Ron looking up from his chair, receiving no answer he let out a sigh, this infuriated Hermione even more.

"WHAT Ron?!" she asked spinning around to face him, her cinnamon eyes flashing.

"I just wanted to apologize for the other evening..." said Ron glancing down at his hands.

Before Hermione could say anything, Mrs. Weasley appeared, "Hermione, come my dear! We think we have the perfect fabric chosen, come see."

Turning towards Mrs. Weasley, Hermione let out a small gasp as Ginny walked forward draped in gorgeous cream colored silk.

"Do you like it Hermione?" she asked.

"Yeah Gin, it is beautiful, you're going to look great." Hermione wiped at her eyes which were beginning to tear up a bit. Mrs. Weasley handed her a tissue.

Hermione watched as Madame Malkins measured Ginny and made various adjustments on the fabric, Ginny was going to be a beautiful bride.

"Your next my dear" said Mrs. Weasley as she held out a scrap of pale pink silk towards Hermione. Hermione went behind the changing screen and slipped out of her muggle clothes. She slipped the pink dress robes over her head and walked out from behind the screen, the dress needed very little done to it. It was sleeveless with a deep V in the neck line, the silk brushed across her body before flaring slightly at her hips. It was a beautiful dress.

Madame Malkins nodded her head in approval. "Here my dear, just let me..." Hermione patiently waited as Madame Malkins made a few adjustments to the dress and altered its length. Hermione couldn't help but blush, she knew Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were not paying much attention to her but the stare Ron had given her...well...

"Hermione it's beautiful" said Ginny with a soft smile.

"All done my dear just take it off and we will be all set."

Hermione nodded at Madame Malkin and hurried behind the screen, changing back into her jeans. She emerged a few minutes later clutching the dress.

"Good, good," said Mrs. Weasley taking the dress robes from Hermione. "Now if you want, Ron will escort you back to your house, but we expect you at dinner this evening."

Hermione began to protest, she was perfectly capable of getting herself back to her house, but Mrs. Weasley had insisted. "Are you sure? Isn't Ron supposed to be helping with your shopping?"

"Don't you worry about it dear, we will be fine." Mrs. Weasley bustled herself and Ginny out of the shop after giving Hermione a quick hug and giving Ron a reproachful look.

Ron ran his hand through his hair, mussing it up, before sticking his hands in his pocket and rocking back and forth on his heels. "So, do you need to stop anywhere else before we head back?"

Hermione shook her head 'no' and headed back towards the Leaky Cauldron.