Weddings with Weasleys

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

Part Six- Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Monday afternoon brought Ron's and Katie's wedding. Theirs was, without a doubt, the funniest. Ron flubbed his vows, causing Katie to giggle through the rest of the ceremony. Instead of kissing at the end, they pecked each other's cheeks. It was then that Fred leaned to George and whispered, "Reckon we ought to tell him that it's going to take more than that to make a baby?" George snickered loudly, and Ron and Katie both turned and glared at him. Hermione looked like she was going to scold him until he told her what Fred had said. She then joined in with his laughter.

Harry's and Luna's Tuesday evening wedding could have been a fiasco. There was so much publicity, and the public was outraged that the Ministry had arranged a marriage for The-Boy-Who-Finally-After-All-These-Years-Defeated-The-Dark-Lord. However, it didn't take long for everyone present to see how much Harry and Luna adored each other. They both lit candles in honor of Luna's mother and Harry's parents. Those candles remained lit until the end of the ceremony, when they were magically sent to be the first lights in the new couple's home when they arrived.

Wednesday evening, everyone gathered for Percy's and Tonks' wedding. Theirs was steeped in formality and tradition. They were the only couple to be wed by the Minister of Magic, himself. Tonks' parents were thrilled with the match, seeing as how Percy would probably be Minister of Magic one day. The entire event would have gone perfectly, had Mad-Eye Moody not tripped Tonks as she walked up the aisle. She yelped, "Wotcher, Moody! I'm trying to get married, here!" Luckily, she laughed at herself and even provided a little humor of her own, when, as Percy kissed her, she smacked his backside, in a "good-game" fashion. Even Percy laughed at that gesture.

Remus and Ginny's wedding was, by far, the most romantic. Harry, as the best man, led Hermione down the aisle exactly at sunset Thursday evening. Ginny looked like an angel in the candlelight as Mr. Weasley walked her down the aisle. She and Remus both cried through their vows and provided the family with the longest altar kiss of the week. Mrs. Weasley, still utterly oblivious, made Ginny promise to not rush into the children aspect of her marriage. Remus, surrounded by his new brothers-in-law, vowed to have her pregnant within a month.

Remus and Ginny were the only couple, thus far, to have a full reception, complete with dancing. Hermione watched as the newlyweds, so obviously in love, danced around the floor. She was quite startled with she felt a hand gently grasp her shoulder.

"Would my lovely fiancée grace me with a dance?" George asked, bowing formally. Hermione nodded and allowed George to lead her to the floor.

They danced in silence for a while, and Hermione just enjoyed being in George's arms. They were strong and comforting. She let her head rest against his shoulder and played with his hair behind his neck.

"Hermione, can I tell you something?" he murmured in her ear.

"Yes, of course," she replied.

"Remember that conversation we almost had before Charlie's wedding?" he began. "Well, I'm nervous about that too."

Hermione pulled back enough to look at him quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I haven't done that in a while, and I want to make you happy," he admitted, with a shy smile.

"George, I don't think you completely understand," Hermione said slowly. "I was saving myself for my husband." She paused as realization crossed his face.

"Oh, thank goodness!" he exclaimed, hugging her tightly to him. "That's wonderful news."

"How exactly is it wonderful news?" Hermione asked.

George blushed and admitted, "Well, you have nothing to compare it to, so if I'm rubbish, you won't know!" He grinned at her.

Hermione's face instantly went into an expression of anger but quickly relaxed as she burst out laughing. "That's true, I guess," she said through her laughter.

George laughed with her for a few moments before turning uncharacteristically serious. "Herimone, there's no pressure. Whenever you're ready is fine. I don't want to push you."

"Thanks, George," she replied shyly. "I appreciate that."

As the song ended, George led Hermione outside. "I have something for you," he said. "I know you said not to, but I wanted you to have this." He pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was a beautiful diamond ring. The stone itself was round and decent-sized, bigger than Ginny's, and surrounded by a platinum band.

"George, it's beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed. He grinned and pulled the ring from the box and put it on her finger. "You didn't have to do that."

"I told you, no fiancée of mine is going to be without a ring," he joked.

"It's so lovely. Thank you," she gushed.

"You're lovely, Hermione," George said softly. "I know you don't love me, but I hope I can make you happy."

"You don't love me either," she reminded him, and he blushed.

"That's not entirely true," he said sheepishly. "You see, in my sixth year, I had a hopeless crush on you." Hermione noticed that when he smiled, his freckle in the corner of his mouth broadened.

"No, you didn't," Hermione argued.

"Yes, I did," George insisted. "I wanted to ask you to the Yule Ball before old Krummy did. After that, I just never acted on my feelings. I figured I wasn't smart enough or good enough for you, and I knew Fred would laugh at me. So I just never said anything."

"But George, all these years have passed since then," Hermione said, "why didn't you ever say anything?"

"Because I thought it was just a passing fancy," he explained. "And I never saw you much or spent time with you after you left school. But when the Ministry matched us together, all those old feelings came back."

"George Weasley, are you a hopeless romantic?" she teased lightly.

He shook his head. "I'm not romantic," he said. "I'm too idiotic to do anything remotely romantic."

"That's not true," she said softly, reaching up to gently brush her fingers across his lips and, what she'd come to call, "George's freckle." He leaned into her touch.

Then he suddenly got down on one knee in front of her. "I realize it's a bit late but hopefully damn romantic. Hermione Granger, will you marry me and promise to try and love me?"

Laughter filled Hermione's eyes, and she answered, "Yes."

George stood and grinned at her. "Hermione, may I...kiss you, really kiss you?" he asked nervously. She nodded, and George lowered his lips to hers in a slow and tender kiss. It might have been the most special moment of Hermione's life if Ron hadn't interrupted.

The couple jumped apart, embarrassed, and Ron stifled a smile. "Remus and Ginny are leaving now," he said before turning and going back inside.

George held out his hand to Hermione, who intertwined her fingers with his. Hand in hand, they walked back into the reception hall to bid farewell to Remus and Ginny, at least until the following evening.

Fred's and Angelina's wedding on Friday night was much more relaxed than all the others had been. Fred had never looked happier, and George smiled proudly as his brother said his vows. However, seeing as it was Fred's wedding, George couldn't resist setting off a bevy of Filibuster Fireworks just as the couple exchanged rings.

Angelina's teammates from Puddlemere provided a broomstick arch for the couple to exit through at the end of the evening. The rest of the family laughed as Fred picked up Angelina and threw her over his shoulder as they Apparated away.

As the Weasleys were cleaning up, Bill found Hermione and gave her a fierce hug. "Are you ready for tomorrow?" he asked, concerned.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, I'm sure it will be fine. It's been a lovely week, hasn't it?" she asked. "All the weddings have been beautiful."

"Yes, they have," Bill replied. "Er, Ron said he found you and George snogging last night. Is that true?" His tone was teasing and disbelieving at the same time.

Hermione blushed. "He kissed me, yes," she replied.

"And?" he prodded.

"It was amazing," Hermione said with a happy sigh. "He's really a wonderful man."

"Didn't I tell you that from the beginning?" Bill asked. "As much of a git he and Fred are together, you won't find a better pair of wizards," he said proudly.

"I know. I'm just afraid I'll disappoint him," Hermione said seriously.

"You won't," Bill insisted with a knowing smile. "George loves you, don't you know?"

"No he doesn't," she denied. "Besides he hasn't ever told me that, just that he had a secret crush on me in school," she said.

"It wasn't that secret," he mumbled. "From what I hear, everyone knew." He turned to Hermione and took her hand, squeezing it. "Just let him love you, will you? You won't regret it."

Hermione nodded in response and smiled at him. "I promise."

He hugged her and kissed her cheek before returning to his family.

Just as Hermione was about to leave, George came to say goodnight. He took her hand and led her to the back of the Weasleys property towards the pond. "Only one more day," he said softly. "Are you still scared?"

"Not anymore," she admitted softly. "George, I think we'll be happy. I really do."

"I hope so, Hermione," he whispered.

"Do you think Fred has anything planned for tomorrow?" she asked.

"I think the better question is what does Fred have planned for tomorrow," he said with a smirk.

"You know, I'm not even going to try and stop him," she said with a sigh. "There's no point."

"It will be fine," George assured her. "Don't worry about anything. I'll take care of my brother."

"You're right," she replied confidently. "Besides, it will take all my time and energy to make myself beautiful before tomorrow night."

George brought his hand up to caress her cheek. "You don't even have to try to be beautiful. You just are," he said softly.

"George, I don't want you to ever think you're not good enough for me," she said. "You're very special and not at all what I thought you were like. I like the George Weasley that I've gotten to know the last few weeks, and I'm honored to be marrying you tomorrow."

George responded by kissing Hermione and wrapping his arms around her. When he broke the kiss, he winked and said cheekily, "There's your last kiss as a single woman. Hope you enjoyed it."

She giggled and said, "I gather I'll enjoy kisses as a married woman even more."

"Oh, you will," he replied. "That's a promise." He took her hand again, and said, "Come on, we'd better get back."

They walked, hand in hand, back to the Burrow, oblivious to the watchful eyes of Molly Weasley from her kitchen window.

When they reached the porch, George turned to Hermione and looked into her eyes. "All right, one more," he said before kissing her once again. When he pulled away, he said, "But that's the last one until tomorrow."

"George Weasley, I believe you're getting sentimental on me," she said.

"If you tell anyone how mushy I've become, I'll have to divorce you," he threatened.

"Don't worry," she whispered, "your secret's safe with me." She reached up to kiss his cheek. "See you tomorrow, Mr. Weasley," she said before Apparating back to her flat.