Disclaimer: Don't own HP
Chapter 21: The Wedding
Ron was green, and Harry was wondering why he was so nervous. He's getting married, but... Oh well, Ron never liked getting dressed up anyway. Ron, Harry, and all of the Weasley brothers we assembled in a chamber adjoining the chapel in the castle. Mr. Weasley and Granger was in the corner having a spirited discussion of cosmetic dentistry and plastic surgery. They all looked sharp in their black tuxedo's and Fred and George were keeping everyone occupied with their impressions of penguins.
Charlie, who was always the twins idol for mischief, pulled out a bottle of Firewhiskey. "Just for nerves fella's," and poured everyone a shot.
Ron, looked very relieved and poured himself another, but Harry whisked it and the bottle out of Ron's hand, "Hermione would kill you if you were drunk at your own wedding, in fact, you should probably brush your teeth, she'll smell it on you."
Ron gasped, "Your absolutely right Harry."
Harry laughed and downed the shot and then another. Percy frowned and took away the bottle, "you should definitely not be drinking."
"Right you are sir." Harry laughed and walked out the door, "I'll be back in a bit."
He was prowling down the hall, how dare Hermione get married before and not tell him! Well, well, Harry was just not going to have that. Then a thought struck him, am I drunk? Am I? Did I eat breakfast? Crap, I was a poor man's drunk this morning. Harry laughed, oh well, up the staircase. I hope the stair railings don't disappoint me. Am I even going up the right stairs. This castle is looking slightly different.
Hermione stepped in front of the mirror, she looked amazing. Her normally bushy brown hair was streaked with summer-y shades of blonde, and was sleeked back into an elegant French twist (Her favorite hair style.) Her veil was pushed back for the time being so she could see what she was doing. He dress was strapless, fresh white and has an elegant train. Everything about today was going to be perfect.
But just to be sure, Hermione had taken some precautions. She had a gold galleon shoved in the toe of her right shoe. For something old she had a handkerchief embroidered by one of her favorite aunts when she was a girl. For something new her dress would surfice. She had a borrowed pair of pearl earrings, and blue violets set in in her bouquet of daisies. Everything was going to be perfect.
Hermione looked over her shoulder at her mother, she smiled and the smile was returned, teary eyed, but returned. Mrs. Weasley, who still nagged her and Harry to call her Molly was in the corner, and gave her a wink. She walked over, gave Hermione a motherly hug and whispered in Hermione's ear, "I believe your most definitely the most beautiful daughter-in-law a mother could ask for her son." Molly leaned back and added with a wink, "Just don't tell Fluer I said so, we don't need a Veela's rage raining down on the Weasley house."
Her maid-of-honor, Ginny, who was wearing a glamorous sweeping emerald green gown stepped forward. Ginny didn't have an actual opinion (or wasn't listened to) when Hermione was selecting dress colors. Ginny had protested that is made her look like a Christmas tree, but Hermione and everyone else is the shop disagreed. It was her color. It was Hermoine's day after all, and everything was going to be perfect.
Ginny laughed, "Hermoine, your allowed to smile, your getting married today!"
Hermione and Ginny broke out into very girlie squeals. Molly said, "We'll leave you two alone for a little bit, we've got to go check and make sure that those boy, I mean men, and good and ready, we'll be back when it's time." Then Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Granger turned and left the room leaving Ginny and Hermione alone. Each girl extremely nervous.
Hermione was nervous because she was getting married to Ron today in front of a whole load of people! She really hated crowds, but Ron wanted the ceremony to be held at the castle, and she really could no think of a better place for the life of her. Everything was going to be perfect.
Ginny was nervous, because she was to be leaving in less than a week. LESS THAN A WEEK! She would be on a plane, because there was no way she would apparate! She would splinch herself all across the bloody Atlantic! And you could forget flooing, she would be robbed, and portkeys were out of the question because they made her nauseous. So she would be flying, joining Mick, her love. And then they would begin planning their wedding. Their wedding... It wasn't that she didn't love him, she just always thought she would be married, here, in Britain to, well, someone else. But that's fate. No use worrying today, today was Hermione's day, and everything was going to be-
Knock, knock knock. Hermione gave Ginny a strange glance, who would be knocking? "I'll get it Hermione," Ginny said as she walked to the door. It opened before she got there.
"Ginny," said Harry in a booming voice as he wrapped his arms around her and began waltzing her around the floor of the room. "You know Ginny, your not supposed to upstage the bride. Truly, maybe we can throw a rag on you and paint of a unibrow so that way Hermione will at least have a chance to be the prettiest girl here today, she is getting married today! And everything is going to be-"
RUINED! Hermione thought, Harry was smashed, bombed, drunk! At her wedding! And he was supposed to be a little bit more sensible than Ron.
Harry was still chatting wildly to Ginny though, "You know you really should marry me some time, we could do it anywhere really-"
"HARRY" Ginny couldn't believe he was drunk, this early in the morning, that with lack of sleep, no breakfast probably, and him still being a rather skinny guy, had left him a little tipsy and Harry always lost his brain to mouth filter when he drinks!
"-and the wedding too." Harry was just warming up when he noticed a rather angry Hermione. "Why hello, do I know you?"
"Yes you stupid prat, you've been friends with me for ages-"
False recognition dawned on Harry's face. "Oh, yes, yes, your that Hermione lass. I vaguely recall you. Your not bad... quite the catch now that I think about it. Why don't you and I get hitched? You've already got the dress, and I'm dressed and showered, and this little lady over her could be my mistress."
"Harry, I'm getting married today to Ron." Hermione reminded him with a giggle. Whatever you said about Harry, he always could pour on the charm when he really wanted too.
"Oh, right you are. I think I'll be walking you down the aisle than?"
"Sorry, but Dad and Mum are." Hermione laughed again, he was so goofy looking.
"Shame," Harry suddenly looked devilish, a rather good look for him in the opinion of Ginny. "I know."
Hermione was puzzled, "You know what?" She was just going to have to go along with the joke.
Harry cleared his throat. "Mrs. Weasley, I know. Or should I say Mrs.Granger-Weasley."
Ginny laughed, "Harry, she isn't married yet."
Hermione was floored and Harry looked victorious. "What kind of idiot do you think I am? You know I have my ways."
"But we took precautions, and it was a spur of the moment thing really."
Ginny had to take a moment, "Your married already? How?"
Harry stepped up to Ginny and began waltzing her again, "Yes, Hermione tell us how you hatched and carried out this daring deed."
"Well, about a month ago, we were in Vegas, on a stake-out-"
"Right," Harry muttered as he lead Ginny slightly left.
"-and we had too much to drink-"
A loud laugh echoed from Harry as he exclaimed, "-Can you ever really have too much to drink?" Ginny shook her head no, Harry was a riot. She was prepared to forgive him for last night.
Hermione continued, "-and we decided not to wait."
Harry brought Ginny closer,"Waiting makes the heart go fonder."
Ginny laughed, "I believe the expression is 'Waiting makes the heart grow fonder.'"
"-It was a good idea at the time-" Hermione was really sounding worried.
Harry interrupted Hermione as he twirled Ginny, "Not good, great! But only in your case, it was bad not to tell me. And Ginny, your good idea at the time is equally as bad. No marriage for the Potter girls, you both are mine!"
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Your a complete idiot when your drunk." Harry smiled.
"Yes, well anyway, we woke up, married, and realized that our mothers had always wanted a big wedding for us. And well, me being the only wedding my parents were to have, I decided we would just follow through with business as usual."
"I'll keep your secret, no need upsetting anybody, as long a Ginny kisses me and doesn't marry the idiot."
The music in Ginny's head stopped with a screech. What exactly was he asking. And did he mean any of what he said?
The door opened and it was George. "Oh Harry, thank Merlin, I was worried you'd gone and drunk yourself up to Moaning Myrtle's, she's positively howling that you haven't been to see her in ages."
"I'm kind of in the middle of something here Fred," Harry winked as he pulled Ginny closer.
"NOT WITH MY SISTER YOU AREN'T" George grabbed Harry by the neck and threw him out the door. "I'm George you drunken fool. YES YOU! And you'll keep stumbling down that hall if you know what's good for you!" George then turned his attention back to the girls, "I trust that he didn't do anything to embarrass anyone or anything like that?"
The two equal stunned girls shook their head in no.
"Great then, Mum will be up in a jiffy and we will get this show started, and I'll, well I'll sober him up the old fashioned way." George looked devilish, twisted his watch and chased Harry down the hall.
Twenty minutes later Harry was sober, and lined up with the rest of the guys on the alter, waiting for the ceremony to begin. He wasn't feeling too great, but he'd be fine. He could handle this.
Ron looked at Harry as the bride's-maids began walking down the aisle. Harry nodded and whispered in Ron's ear, "I know you've done this before."
The look of pure shock on Ron's face lasted Ron until Hermione walked into the room. Ron's ears turned red, and Harry, like everyone else in the room and Ron himself, wondered how the heck Ron got so lucky.
The ceremony, which was traditionally long and boring to everyone who was hung-over, was making Harry very jittery. He looked away from Ron and Hermione for a minute and noticed Ginny. SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. And then he remembered, he had made an ass out of himself. He was going to have a apologize. He must have been staring because she gave him a funny look and motioned for him to close his jaw.
Harry really must have been staring a long time because before he knew it they were kissing and he was following them out of the chapel and the the party.
After the wedding there was a grand reception in the great hall. Food was served, and the cake was cut. Ginny never so much as look at Harry. It was odd seeing how they kept bumping into each other.
Ron and Hermione danced, then Hermione and her father and Ron and Mrs. Weasley. Then Mr. Weasley with Hermione, then Harry himself got to dance with her. He took the opportunity to apologize to her. "Hermione, about earlier, I'm sorry, I really shouldn't have bothered you."
"Thanks Harry, but I really thought it was rather funny. How did you find out?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Oh.... how quickly we forget," Harry put on a funny voice, "I am a man with a map."
Hermione instantly understood, then said, "So, your up to your old tricks then I'd say."
"Yes and no."
"Potter, if your planning something dangerous your going to have to put it off until after Ron and I come back from the honeymoon."
"And then nine more months."
"What does that mean?"
"Your a Weasley now, end of story."
"You think your funny don't you Potter?" Hermione tried to intimidate him.
"Yes, I do Weasley." Harry glared then winked.
"I know something about you however."
"OH really? Like I have a scar?" Harry was trying to change the subject.
"Admit it, you love Ginny."
Harry's mouth dropped. If it had been humanly possible it would have hit the floor. "What? How?" Harry was shocked.
"Your not the only one with our ways. I just don't need a map. I saw you staring at her today."
Harry couldn't respond.
"You better not let her get on that plane. If Ginny winds up marry this Mick fellow, nice as he may be, you'll live to regret it."
Harry still couldn't talk.
"May I cut in?" Ron asked as he waltzed near them.
"Of course you can, congrats man, she's a real piece of work." Then under the glare of Hermione, Harry switched partners and added, "In a good way of course."
The two danced off and Harry's partner laughed, "Good save Potter, I thought you may not be able to talk your way out of that one."
Harry's knees when weak. It was Ginny. "Look, Gin, I'm sorry-"
"Don't be, you were drunk. It's okay."
"But-" Harry had to tell her now.
"Harry, let's not get into an argument. Can we just dance tonight? That way you can keep me away from all my brothers and of loads of freaky, smelly men out there?"
Harry swallowed hard as she put her head on his shoulder, "Anything you want Ginevra."
She didn't even protest. All night they danced, and all night Harry didn't tell her. He wouldn't ruin the night with a fight. He wanted to remember her like this. Exactly like this. In his arms, happy, and safe. He wanted to remember.
Before he was ready, Hermione and Ron departed to their honeymoon, leaving all the guests to scamper off on their separate ways. Harry asked, "Ginny everyone's leaving. Do you want me to take you to your room?"
"Just dance with me a little longer." She looked up into his green eyes with her big brown one's and Harry knew he would give her the world if she asked. He wasn't even going to remind her that the music had stopped because the band had gone home.
"Anything you want." Harry sighed as he twirled her one last time, reminded himself to remember the way she smiled in surprise. The way she smelled. The way her copper red hair matched her skin and dress perfectly. The way their hand's fit together. The way her eyes met his. The twinkle in her eye as she noticed he was again staring at her. He needed to remember every little detail; because she would no longer be his come morning and he would not let himself forget.
Sorry this took so long. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading, please review. This is going to be done in a few more chapters. I never planned on making it so long, but it just seemed like the right thing to do.
-Rollingstone