Chapter Twelve: Love and Hope (a.k.a. the chapter we've all been waiting for)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: Massive fluff warning. Fluff upon fluff upon fluff ahead. You have been warned.

Trevor looked at the badge in his hand and blinked.

Trevor Daniels

Groom

"Are you coming?" Anne Marie asked. "I don't think they'll marry us in the Atrium."

Their eyes locked, and he stared at her, searching for something in her eyes, a confirmation or reassurance or something. And he saw it, and he felt it.

Hope. And love. It consumed him. He could feel it radiating around him, coming from deep within him. He could feel it reaching out to him from somewhere, but then he realized it wasn't from Anne Marie.

"You're not coming," she said to him and he shook his head.

"I can't."

"I know," she replied. "I've known all along. And in reality, I've felt the same way. It was just fun, you know, to fantasize about it."

"Anne Marie, I'm sorry," he said.

"Its okay," she replied. "You never wanted to marry me anyway. You want to get married... just not to me."

And then to Trevor's amazement she smiled. "She's lucky you know. Go find her and tell her."

"I don't even know where she is," Trevor whispered, barely aware that he was speaking.

She stepped closer and kissed his cheek. "You'll find her. Just follow your heart. That never fails."

"Thanks," he said. "For not being mad; for being so wonderful for the time we've been together. Without you I wouldn't have realized that... well I would have realized."

"Not a problem," she replied. "Good luck." And she Dispparated, leaving him alone in the Atrium.

"Follow my heart... follow my heart," he repeated to himself. He closed his eyes and sighed. What am I doing? I just threw away a relationship with a sweet, funny, wonderful woman minutes from the alter for someone who is argumentative and indecisive and...

"Perfect," Trevor said. "And she makes me laugh like no one else can." He sighed and looked again at the empty atrium. "What am I doing?"

Follow your heart, follow your heart.

"I know where she is," he said to the water fountain of magical brethren. "Wish me luck." And he Dispparated.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON BRENT!"

Brent shrank into the bed even more, pulling the sheet to over his naked body. Images of Brent with another woman, bouncing around on top of him were still fresh in her mind and she was pleased to see fear pass over Brent's face. The other woman looked terrified also, a blond Reagan recognized from seeing her around the Ministry and from Quidditch matches where the groupies would always hover after games.

"You're Reagan Potter," the blond witch said.

"How very observant of you," Reagan replied coldly. "And who, prey tell are you?"

"Someone who could give Brent what he wants," the witch smirked.

"If you were smart, you'd stop talking," Reagan replied, pointing her wand at the witch, a dozen spells flying through her head.

"If you think you can attack an unarmed witch and get away with it, then you're as crazy as Brent said you were."

"Crazy, am I, Brent?" Reagan asked, turning her gaze to her fiancée… her former fiancée.

"I, um," Brent stammered. Out of the corner of her eye, Reagan could see the witch's eyes dart to her wand, lying forgotten on the floor. She wouldn't be that stupid would she? The witch seemed to make up her mind. She would. The blond a dive for her wand, but Reagan was quicker.

"Expelliarmus! Petrificus totalus!" Reagan yelled at her, barely lifting her wand. The girl's wand flew from her hand and she went rigid, stiffly falling onto the bed.

"So I ask you again, Brent," Reagan said more calmly. "What is going on?"

"You're home early," he stated, seeming to regain his composure. "What are you doing here?"

"I live here," Reagan replied. "What are you doing here?"

Brent looked at the naked girl on the bed, and then to his wand.

"Don't even think about it," Reagan warned. "Unless you think its worth the risk. I mean, your Quidditch career is already on the line here."

"I doubt this is in the Quidditch books," Brent said. "We're not married yet, therefore its not adultery."

"Oh, I'm sure we could tack on aiding criminals in the abduction of a Ministry official," Reagan replied. "I'm sure there's something in the Professional Quidditch Player Book of Conduct, Rules and Regulations. Besides, you don't know what I'm capable of," Reagan said. "I know more curses, jinxes, charms and spells than you could possible imagine."

"And I can have you arrested for threatening me," Brent replied.

Reagan laughed. "Try, I dare you. I'm sure any jury would see it my way,"

Brent moved very quickly, he was a Seeker after all, and made a grab at his wand, but it moved from his reach to hovered beside Reagan's head.

"How did you do that?" he asked. "You didn't even say anything!"

"You really don't know me at all, do you?" Reagan asked, taking his wand from the air.

"Wa-wandless magic?" he stuttered. "How?"

Reagan rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Brent, do you ever pay attention to anything other than yourself? Now where should I send you?" Reagan tapped her fingers on the side of her face.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Contemplating where to send a naked Quidditch star and his naked whore," she replied. "The Ministry? No, there's no one there on the weekend. Diagon Alley? No, don't want to scare the kiddies." And then it occurred to her, the perfect place to send him.

She grinned at him. "You know, I threw away someone wonderful for you."

"Yeah?" he asked. "Who?"

"Trevor Daniels," she replied.

"Trevor Daniels!" he spat. "What could you possibly see in that looser?"

Reagan's eyes narrowed. "Lets see, he's not arrogant, or cocky and he's a much better kisser than you are."

"You've kissed him?" Brent asked. "When?"

"Remember when I said that I knew Trevor?" Reagan asked. "Well, we were pretty close friends at Hogwarts. He was my first kiss. First many things actually."

"Too bad he doesn't love you anymore," Brent smirked as he said exactly what he knew would get to Reagan.

"Yeah, well," Reagan said. "I have you to thank for that don't I? While I was so absorbed with you, I was blind to what I truly wanted. Fact, I'm not even sure that you didn't have some spell over me. Maybe we could add that to your charges."

"And now he won't have you," Brent continued, ignoring her comment. "He's going to marry that blond Auror he's been so cuddly with."

"Oh, so you do pay attention to things other than yourself," Reagan sneered at him. "So tell me Brent, why did you pay so much attention to Trevor's love life?"

"He loves her now, so you'll have to stay with me," he said smirking at her.

"Is that what you thought?" Reagan asked. "That I thought no one else would have me so I would stay with you?" Reagan glared hard at him, trying desperately to keep her temper in check. "Let me tell you something, Brent. I wouldn't stay with you, if we were the last two people on this earth. I don't need you to be happy." And with a wave of her hand he and his little blond thing next to him vanished.

Imagining how Darenn would react to a naked Seeker and a naked witch landing in his living room, Reagan smiled and left her bedroom.

She knew Trevor's place was within walking distance, and as she stepped outside, the first rain drops began to fall on her head. There was an immediate down pour and she was instantly soaked. Not bothering to cast a drying charm she set off down the street towards

Trevor's house, not even knowing if he was there. All she knew is that she needed to get to him.

Oh Merlin. Why didn't I see it before? Reagan really hoped her father would not be able to know what was going on, as he would come immediately to make sure everything was all right. How could I have been so stupid? Trevor was there, and I was a complete idiot. He hasn't talked to me and I don't know what I'm going to say.

"I'm relieved," she said out loud, stopping. She sank onto the near by park bench and cried into her hands. I'm relieved that he's gone, that Brent screwed up this bad. It was like he had a spell over me, I wouldn't listen to anyone or take anyone's advise. I had to learn it for myself. Brent was no good for me, and Trevor was...

Reagan sighed. "He was perfect." More tears came over her and she cried silently into her hand. I wish you were here Josie. You would have told me I was nuts to date Brent. What was I thinking? I hope he doesn't hate me. I wish Trevor was here. He'd make everything better. He'd hold me while I cried, not look at me like I was a leper. Trevor held me when you died. I wish he was here, I wished he still love me...

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Trevor stepped out in front of his house, not sure of where Reagan would be at this time of the day.

Probably out making wedding plans with her fiancée, he thought bitterly.

He looked up at the sky as the rain began to fall. He wiped the rain out of his face and set off towards Reagan's house, his clothes soaking and sticking to him as he went.

What am I doing? he asked himself as he walked. She'll never take me back; she's too wrapped up in the Brent Johnson craze to look what is directly in front of her face. What am I saying? Take me back? I never had her in the first place, not officially. And why was that? Because I never asked her. I never asked her to be with me, I always assumed that after... well after everything that we'd been through and everything that happened between us, I just thought that she would feel the same way that I did.

The rain came down harder as he made his way down the road towards Reagan's house. He knew the way so well, his legs knew where to carry him and he was helpless to their demands.

Follow your heart... follow your heart... I have to know if she loves me, that she if to be with me. I have to know how she feels. And if she doesn't... well, then, I'll go away and I won't bother her. I'll take the offer in America. But I have to know how she feels and if she's happy with Brent, then I'll go to America and move on... like she did.

Trevor stopped suddenly when he saw her. He was still far enough away that she had not noticed him yet. She was sitting silently in the rain, her head in her hands, but Brent was no where to seen. As he silently stepped closer he realized that she was crying.

What has that bastard done to her that has made her cry?

He stood watching her, realizing that even with tears running down her face she looked beautiful and perfect. Her dark hair, her deep green eyes, her face, her smile, he loved everything about her, he always had. Over their years at Hogwarts together, his love had grown from a cute puppy love to a deep passionate emotion. While she was in America, he thought that love, the immense and powerful emotions he felt towards her had diminished in her absence, but then he saw her again, all those months ago in the

Ministry and she took his breath away. She was there, in her father's office, and it was like nothing had changed. His stomach had flip flopped, his breath caught in his throat and it had taken him a few seconds to recover from the shock of seeing her in front of him after all those years. He had given her some smart comment, and left the office, only to retreat into the men's loo to get control of himself. His breath had been short, and his heart felt like it was going to leap out of his chest. All he wanted to do was grab her and snog her senseless, and he almost had minutes later when he had seen her at the elevator.

And now she was feet away from him, silently weeping, soaking wet and he wanted nothing more than to hold her.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Reagan was vaguely aware of some one standing near her. Assuming it was Brent, or one of her brothers, she didn't look up. She knew it wasn't her father, she could always feel when he was around. She tried to control her breathing, preparing to face who ever it was. She was soaked to the bone, and didn't much care about casting something to dry her off.

"Warmitus," the person whispered as he sat down next to her and her heart skipped a beat.

Trevor!

She looked up at him, her eyes still filled with tears and he pulled a lock of dark brown hair away from her face and tried to wipe some of the water off her face. He was soaked as well, his dark hair dripping water onto his face, running down his nose and off his chin.

"I wished that you were here," she whispered, bringing her hand up to his face. "Are you really here?" He smiled and nodded.

"Why were you wishing for me?" he asked and glanced around. "Where... where is Brent?"

"Brent is..." Reagan grinned and snickered. "Brent made a huge mistake an underestimated me."

"Ooooh, that is a bad thing to do," Trevor chuckled. "So I guess it doesn't matter what Brent did, what did you do to him?"

"I, uh, sent him and the witch I caught him with to Darenn's... naked."

Trevor couldn't help but laugh. "I bet Brent is pretty sorry right about now."

"Doesn't really matter," Reagan shrugged, looking up at him, the wonder in her eyes burning into his. "Where is Anne Marie?"

Trevor didn't break eye contact with her, and continued to stare at her, and her heart swelled with something she hadn't felt from him in a long time.

Love. And hope.

"Anne Marie is... you know I don't know where she is," he replied. "We were at the Ministry, and then she told me to follow my heart and then she left."

"To follow your heart?" Reagan asked.

"And it led me here."

"Trevor"

"Reagan let me say this before I loose my chance or my nerve," Trevor said, cutting her off. "I don't that that Gryffindor bravery like you do, I was a Slytherin, remember? We're not known for bravery or courage, and I was actually planning on weaseling my way to you so I could tell you this. I don't know what happened between you and Brent or what is going to happen, and I don't know how you feel about me anymore. But I know how I feel. And I thought I felt that towards Anne Marie. But today at the Ministry, we were on our way to get married, and I stopped because... because I realized that every time I looked at her, I hoped she was you. Every time Anne Marie smiled at me, I wanted to see you smile. Every time she laughed I wanted to hear your laugh. I wanted it to be you I was going to elope with. I love you Reagan. I don't know if you knew, but I thought you did, but in case you didn't then I'll tell you again. I love you. I can't explain it, I can't figure out how I can love you for so long, through everything you've put me through and through everything that has happened. But I can't get over you. I tried. I tried dating other people, I tried, I really did try to get you out of my head. But it's impossible. I feel too strongly about you to let you go while there is still a change. But if you tell me to stop, that there is no way possible that we can be together, then I'll stop. I'll go away and leave you alone and let you live your life. All I want if for you to be happy. And if that's not with me, then I can live with that, and I won't get in the way again. And if it is with me, then... well then please let me know because its agony being without you, but its even worse not knowing how you feel."

Reagan stared at him, tears flowing freely down her face again, but she couldn't feel happier.

"Oh, no, I've made you cry again," Trevor said.

"You still love me?" Reagan asked.

"Are you kidding me?" he laughed. "Of course I still love you. I can't help it."

"You never actually said it," Reagan replied. "But I always knew. I always knew you were the one for me. And everyone tried to tell me, and I refused to listen. Everyone else knew except me!" She laughed wiping the tears and water out of her eyes. "And I never told you either."

"Told me what?"

"That I love you too," Reagan replied. "And I always have. You've always been the one to make everything better, and you can comfort me in a way that no one else can. You are the first person I think of going to when something is wrong, and you were the first person I thought of after I banished Brent to Darenn's was you. I always thought of you. I couldn't get you out of my head either. Even when I was in America, every owl I would see I'd hope it was yours, and then I saw you last summer at the Ministry and everything came flooding back but I was so blinded by Brent and stupid smile and your smile is so much nicer and then you won that award and he was so upset about it and I wanted to laugh. And then when I realized what a slime ball Brent was, all I wanted to do was find you and have you hold me and make everything better and I am so, so... so happy to know that you still love me and want to be with me after everything I've done to you over the years and look at me I'm all wet and rambling like an idiot!" Reagan was still sobbing, but her tears were mixed with laughter. Trevor laughed with her and put his arms around her, pulling her to him.

"You can stop crying," Trevor said into her hair.

"I know," Reagan replied, sniffling. "But I can't make it stop." She laughed at herself and buried her head in his chest.

"Yes, you can," Trevor laughed, and pulled her chin up to him with her hand. He slowly lowered his head and her eyes darted from his eyes to his lips. Looking back up at him, her lips curled into a smile.

"Trevor?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"Do you know how wonderful it is to hear you say that?" he asked, wiping more water off her face and she grinned. "Reagan?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too."

"Hmmm, it is nice to hear that," she replied. "You know how you said you were at the Ministry?"

"Yeah."

"Were you going to get married?"

"Yeah, I was," he replied.

"Oh... well I was thinking, I mean, since we love each other an all..."

"Will you marry me, Reagan?" he asked and her face lit up.

"Yes, of course," she replied and started crying again. She didn't want to wait to kiss him any longer. She threw her arms around him and pulled him to her, their lips meeting for the first time in five years. And as their tongues met in rapid succession, she never wanted the moment to end. Kissing Trevor was nothing like kissing Brent and nothing like she remembered or could have even imagined. It was absolute happiness. She could feel his love, how much he cared for her, and how happy he was, and he kissed her more passionately than she had ever been kissed before.

"Are we really going to get married?" she asked, breathless as she pulled away from him. She didn't particularly want the kiss to end, but she had to know.

"If you want to," he replied and reached his hand into his pocket. "In fact, I grabbed this, you know, just in case." He pulled a black satin box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a three stone ring, one diamond surrounded by two sapphires, all set on a white gold band.

"Is this the same as..." Reagan began but stopped, partly afraid to ask the question.

"No, not at all," Trevor laughed. "This is a ring I bought for you towards the end of your seventh year. It was meant then to be an engagement ring, but I never got up the courage to ask you, and well, then you went to America and I thought that I had lost my chance."

"It's beautiful," Reagan whispered as he slipped it onto her finger.

"Just like you," he replied, kissing her.

"Yeah, right," Reagan replied, laughing. "Trevor, I'm soaking wet, and I've been crying. I can't imagine how attractive I could possibly look."

"I think you are beautiful no matter what," Trevor said, kissing her forehead. "No matter what." His kissed then moved down her neck and back to her mouth and they lost themselves in each other and time seemed to stop. Neither of them knew how much time had gone by, but some time later, a deep voice cleared his throat near them and they jumped, breaking apart their snog session.

"Didn't your mother tell you not to stay out in the rain?" Harry asked, grinning at his daughter and Trevor.

"Dad!" Reagan exclaimed, wiping water out of her face and blushing. "How long have you been here?"

Harry chuckled. "Long enough."

Trevor laughed. He should have known that Reagan's father would turn up sooner or later.

"I been in the weirdest mood today," Harry continued. "For the most of it the day, it was a norm mood, but then I felt very happy. I then got a Floo from Darenn and was curious how I could feel so happy when the star Seeker of my favorite Quidditch team was now a bench player, and then it occurred to me that maybe it was your feelings I was feeding off and I found you here." Harry paused, ginning at the two of them. "I must say, it is about time. And you two are soaked to the bone. Lets get you out of the rain, and I think a nice Drying Charm would do nicely, because if I don't say it, Ginny will have my hide."

Trevor quickly cast a drying charm on each of them, and Reagan conjured an umbrella, content as her hair and clothing were no longer sticking to her. She sighed contently as Trevor put her arms around her and she smiled at her dad.

You were right, she thought as she returned her smile.

Then let it be a lesson to you and all the Weasley and Potter women, Harry returned in thought. I am always right and the world would be a better place if everyone listened to me in the first place.

Reagan laughed out loud at this, and Trevor looked between father and daughter, realizing a silent conversation had been going on, most likely about him, but from the looks on their faces he didn't mind.

"I hope you'll stay out of the rain this time," Harry said. "There is a dinner at the Burrow tonight, a rather large one in fact. Consider this as your official invitation."

Reagan nodded and leaned into Trevor more.

"And please mention to your mum that I told you to stay dry and warm," Harry said.

"I'll make sure she knows how nice of a job you've done, Dad," Reagan replied. With a soft pop! Harry was gone and Trevor and Reagan were alone in the street again.

"So dinner?" Trevor asked and Reagan nodded. He was gazing at her, the same content smile on his face that was on hers, and she could feel her knees begin to go weak under his gaze.

"When should we get married?" she asked, still feeling a tingle go up her spine at the thought of marrying Trevor.

"When ever you want to," Trevor replied.

"How about tomorrow?" she asked.

"Any other day but tomorrow," he replied. "I'd like to get some rest in before I take you on."

She swatted at his arm gently and smiled. "How about next week?"

"You are eager to get on wit it aren't you?" he teased, when in reality he would marry her right now if he had the choice.

"You could say that," Reagan replied. "I'd marry you tonight now if in a hour we could get a dress, a cake and everyone together."

Trevor had an odd look in his eye, and cocked his head to the side looking at her.

"What?"

"Well, Captain Potter, urm… I mean, your dad did say that everyone was having dinner at the Burrow tonight and since we love each other and all and want to get married…"

"You're kidding right?" she asked, though she could tell from the look in his eye that she wasn't. "Are you serious, Trevor?"

"Only if you want to," he replied. "What ever wedding you want you can have."

Reagan pondered it for a moment, and decided nothing seemed more perfect or and nothing felt more right.

She nodded eagerly and he grinned at her, taking her into his arms, his lips claiming her again. This time they were under the shelter of her umbrella, so at least they weren't getting wet.

A/N: Since you have all been so patient at waiting for me to get this thing moving along and now that my computer issues are fixed (cross your fingers) and I am settled into my new home for the next six months and there are no problems with my husband in Iraq (again, cross your fingers) then this should be done by the end of April. Thank you all for being such wonderful readers (and reviewers!) ! EE