Epilogue

Eight years later…

Harry was just drifting off to sleep as a drunken, raucous rendition of "She's getting married in the morning…" drifted through the door of his hotel room. Must be a group of Sally's friends, he thought, pulling the duvet over his head.

Sally and Harry had been through a lot over the past eight years. She had been with him when Peter Pettigrew had been given the Dementors' Kiss, and when Sirius had been pardoned posthumously. He had helped her come to terms with the fact that she was directly related to one of the most evil wizards in history. And now…Harry felt that it was the end of an era, as well as a new beginning.

There was a knock at the door. Harry rolled over to look at the clock next to his bed. 1 AM. Who could it possibly be at this hour? He wondered, getting up to open the door. Standing outside, in her pyjamas, was Sally.

"Were you asleep?" she asked.

"No," Harry lied, moving out of the way so that she could enter the room. She flopped down on his bed.

"Shouldn't you be with your bridesmaids or something?" asked Harry, puzzled.

Sally waved her hands in the air. "They went out, but I thought I should really get some sleep, as it's my wedding day tomorrow."

"Shouldn't you be asleep then?"

"I tried, but then I started thinking about tomorrow and all the things that could go wrong and I thought I should talk to someone before I go out of my mind."

Harry sat down next to her on the bed. "Okay," he said, "what do you think could go wrong?"

Sally took a deep breath. "Well, the florists might not bring the flowers, or the caterers might no turn up, or it might rain, or the cake might get smashed, or they might forget to deliver the ice sculptures – wait, did I call the ice sculpture people to confirm? I didn't, did I? Oh bloody hell, why did I ever…"

"You did call the ice sculpture people. This morning. Several times."

Sally looked visibly relieved. "I did! I remember! You see, I am going mad."

Harry chuckled. "I've never seen you get this stressed about anything before. In fact, you're normally so laid back it's scary."

"It's true," she sighed. "I suppose I just want everything to be perfect."

Harry took her face in both hands. "Listen to me," he said. "Whatever happens tomorrow, even if the church roof falls in during the service, it will still be perfect."

Sally smiled. "Thank you."

"Not a problem," said Harry. "Feeling slightly less insane?"

Sally shifted into a more comfortable position. "Yeah – I just wish I didn't keep thinking that my dress had got up and walked out of the hotel."

Harry laughed. "Is it nice? I wish I could see it."

Sally wagged her finger at him. "You know the rules," she said. "Besides, no one has seen it, except for Mum of course. It's gorgeous, and I look halfway decent in it, which is a bonus."

"I'm sure you look fantastic."

"You would say that."

Sally got up off the bed. "I should go get some sleep, I have to be up at the crack of dawn to do makeup and hair and all manner of things."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Goodnight."

"Night."

The next morning was pandemonium, and before Harry knew it he was suited, booted and standing at the altar, with Ron next to him. He tried to catch Ron's eye, but the redhead was already watching the double doors at the other end of the church, waiting for them to open.

As the organ began to play the bridal march, the doors opened, and Sally entered on her father's arm.

She looked breathtaking.

The dress was a flowing creation of pure silk, with thin straps and intricate embroidery running down one side. Her long curly hair had been swept up, and was being held in place by a small band of pearls. In her hands she carried a trailing bouquet of white orchids.

Harry just had time to give her a quick smile, and received one in return as the service began.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered her today to witness the joining of Sally Angela Mason and Ronald Bilius Weasley…"

Since the demise of Voldemort, the wizard press had almost lost interest in The Boy-Who-Lived, and Sally (or in her own words, The Girl-Who-Not-Only-Lived-But-Got-The-Job-Done-Properly-And-With-Slightly-More-Panache,) had become the new media darling. She had gracefully accepted her rise to fame, and had used it as an opportunity to promote wider acceptance of Muggles and half-bloods in the wizarding community.

Anticipating widespread interest in the wedding, Sally and Ron had agreed to do a photo shoot for Spellbound, 'the glossy magazine for the cosmopolitan witch,' in return for absolute privacy for the rest of the day.

Once the ceremony was over, the photographer began to arrange the bride and groom, together with the best man and chief bridesmaid, as well as the ushers and bridesmaids. Harry was reminded of his first meeting with Rita Skeeter, as the photographer kept pulling him forward, much to the chagrin of the chief bridesmaid.

Sally, who was by this time used to photo shoots, was taking the whole thing in her stride. Ron, however, was looking visibly bored.

"Ron? Sweetheart? Look alive," said Sally, as the photographer went off to get another roll of film.

"I was just dazzled by your outstanding beauty," said Ron, grinning impishly. "In fact, I think it's unfair on all the men who will see these photos – they'll just go insane knowing that you're taken."

Sally raised an eyebrow. "If a man was reading Spellbound, it probably wouldn't be me that he was interested in."

"I try to compliment her and see what I get?" said Ron, tickling Sally's ribs and making her squeal. He turned to Harry. "You're lucky mate, stay single forever."

Harry laughed and shook his head. As Ron turned back to Sally, Harry sighed. "You're the lucky one," he said quietly.

Photos done, it was time for the reception. It had been a nightmare for the young couple to plan a reception that wouldn't cause too many awkward questions from the Muggle guests. Sally had agreed to the more subtle types of magic, (the fairy lights around the room were in fact real fairies), and Ron had picked out the Muggle songs that would appeal most to the wizards and witches, (although Sally had become convinced that he was just using eenie, meenie, miney, mo, after removing Marilyn Manson and Bob the Builder.)

Sitting in the middle of their wedding party at the top table in the large banquet hall, Sally and Ron began to receive congratulations from each of the many guests. Harry's heart sank as he saw a particular wedding guest approach the couple.

"The ceremony was very nice," said Snape to Sally, "although if I had to predict which of the Dynamic Duo you would have married I would probably have said Golden Boy here."

Sally laughed. "Now Severus, be nice."

Ron looked daggers at his ex-Potions teacher. "If anyone had told me that Severus Snape would be at my wedding…" he muttered through gritted teeth.

Harry patted his shoulder consolingly. "I know, I know." He looked over, and was glad to see that the conversation was winding down.

"Well you look lovely, anyway," said Snape.

"Thank you."

To Harry's relief, Snape then turned and walked away.

"See," said Sally, turning to Ron. "He's perfectly fine."

Ron smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand.

Once all the guests were seated, the speeches began. After a short and rather amusing speech from Neil, it was Harry's turn.

Harry stood up. He didn't like public speaking, and had only agreed to do the traditional best man speech after a lot of pleading from both Sally and Ron. He cleared his throat.

"I've known Ron since we were kids," he began. "In fact, it's hard to believe that he is doing something as grown up as getting married. I mean, this is the same guy who accidentally made himself belch slugs when we were twelve."

There was a ripple of laughter.

"Seriously though, Sally and Ron are two of my best friends, and I think it's amazing that they found happiness with each other." Harry took a deep breath. "I love them both, and I can't think of anything that could be more perfect. I know that they are going to have a fantastic life together." He picked up his champagne glass and raised it in the air. "To the best friends I could ever have, and the best couple I could ever imagine."

The guests all raised their glasses, and Ron kissed Sally, to loud cheering and a round of applause.

Harry sat down, trying to ignore the lurch in his stomach.

Watching the people on the dance floor, Harry downed another glass of champagne.

"They make a cute couple, don't they," said a voice behind him.

Harry turned round to see Hermione standing behind him. She was still wearing the dark red dress donned by all the bridesmaids, although the matching wrap and bouquet seemed to have been discarded. She pulled out a chair and sat beside him.

"You're right, they do make a cute couple," said Harry. "It'll be you and Viktor soon."

Hermione laughed, unconsciously twisting the diamond ring on her left hand. "Oh don't. What with matches and tournaments and training and things, we're never actually going to set a date. Unless we get married on a Quidditch pitch."

Harry's eyes lit up. "That would be…."

He stopped, seeing the look on Hermione's face.

"Terrible, that would be absolutely terrible."

She smiled, but was clearly thinking about something else. She looked at Harry, almost questioningly. Slowly, he saw realisation flood her face.

"You're still in love with her," she said quietly.

Shocked that Hermione could see through him so completely, Harry decided to feign ignorance.

"In love with who?"

Hermione shook her head, disbelievingly. "All this time, you've been in love with her."

Harry looked down, uncomfortable. "Do you think Ron knows?"

Hermione shook her head. "Not only is Ron oblivious to…well… everything; if I know you, and I do, you never told him that you were in love with her in the first place."

"Yeah," said Harry. "It was never really the kind of thing we talked about. In fact, I'm surprised I ever told you."

"More to the point," said Hermione, "why did you never tell her?"

Harry shrugged. "It never seemed like the right time, and I always thought that I would tell her one day, when the moment was perfect, and then…"

"And then?"

"And then she fell in love with my best friend."

Harry looked over to where Sally and Ron were chatting animatedly with Neville and his girlfriend, Ron with his arm protectively around Sally's waist.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Harry said, bitterly. "Go up to them and casually announce that instead of being happy for them, this whole wedding is tearing me up inside?"

Hermione stood up and patted him on the shoulder. "You have to let go, that's what you have to do," she said, walking away.

By the time Sally reached the table where Harry was sitting, he was working his way through another glass of champagne.

"It was a gorgeous speech, thank you," she said, flopping down into a chair.

Harry just nodded.

"And thank you for letting me blow off some steam last night. I don't know what was wrong with me! It must have been the hormones."

Harry nodded again, and then stopped, puzzled. "Hormones?"

Sally clapped her hand over her mouth. "You can't tell anyone!" she said, looking around.

Slowly, Harry began to understand what she meant.

"You're pregnant?"

"Sssssh!" exclaimed Sally, waving her hands around to emphasise her point.

"Seriously?"

Realising that she was fighting a losing battle, Sally nodded and grinned.

"Why are you keeping it a secret?"

Sally grimaced. "Well, it's early days yet. Also, you know how traditional Molly is, she already thinks I'm 'that harlot that ensnared her baby boy,' I don't want her to think I'm 'that harlot that got herself in the family way in order to ensnare her baby boy'."

Harry smiled sympathetically. Although, as predicted, Arthur Weasley had immediately taken to the idea of having a Muggle in the family, Molly Weasley had been none too pleased when Ron had announced the engagement. Sally's exuberance and vivacity had come across as brashness to the Weasley matriarch, and it had rubbed salt into the wound of her youngest son leaving the nest.

"So when are you going to tell people?" asked Harry.

"In a few weeks. We think people will assume it's a honeymoon baby."

Looking up, Harry could see Ron sneaking up behind Sally. The redhead put his hands over her eyes.

"I just married you," said Sally, laughing. "Do you really think I don't know what your hands look like?"

Admitting mock defeat, Ron swung into the chair next to Sally.

"Oh by the way," she said nonchalantly, "Harry knows."

Realising what she meant, Ron punched her lightly on the arm. "I knew you wouldn't be able to keep it a secret!"

"Well he's not going to tell anyone! Are you?"

Harry mimed zipping his lips together.

"Good."

Standing up again, Ron stretched out his hand to help Sally up. "Right you," he said, "let's dance."

Giggling, Sally allowed herself to be lead back onto the dance floor.

Harry rolled his eyes as he watched them. Well this complicates things, he thought.

Although it was by far the slowest way to travel, Ron and Sally had decided to take a plane to their honeymoon destination – mainly because Ron wanted to try what he called "Muggle flying".

As the couple climbed into the car that was to take them to the airport, all the guests gathered around to see them off. Molly, after hugging her son tightly, stood a little to the side muttering "I don't see why they couldn't just portkey, perfectly good way of travelling, what do we really know about these aeroplanes anyway…"

Leaning into the car, Harry hugged Ron and gave Sally a swift kiss on the cheek. "Look after her," he said to Ron, patting his best friend on the back.

Ron put him arm around Sally's shoulders. "Don't worry, I will."

Pulling his head out of the car, Harry shut the door, and watched as it drove away. Ginny, who was standing next to him, tapped him on the shoulder.

"Come on," she said, "let's hit Diagon Alley. I'm going with some of the others."

Harry didn't answer.

"Harry," said Ginny impatiently, "Do you want to come or not? Are you ready to move on?"

Harry spoke, still looking into the distance.

"Yes. Yes, I think I am."

A/N: No! It's over! I will really miss this story! What are your opinions on Ron/Sally? I'm curious, so if you genuinely don't like it do say so! On the other hand, if you do like it please tell me, because I'm thinking of doing a few one-shot or short sequels, filling in the last eight years and going into what happened next. It's up to you! Yes? No? Maybe?

Thanks to everyone who has read this, especially those who have stuck with it from the beginning! One last set of reviews sob:

Rubber-duckiesofdoom: You are officially my new pet reviewer! Please keep going with the fic, it's really coming along!

Jamie Prongs: Well I'm glad I changed your opinion! Thank you for all the reviews, and for saying it was good ; ) !

Juno malabre: My baby! My darling beta! What can I say! Breaks down sobbing

Emma Barrows: Thank you! You are so lovely!

Star19: Glad you liked it!

BlueMoonChild89: Not the reaction you were expecting possibly… : )

Musings-of-Apathy: I like you! I hadn't actually thought of introducing yet more trials and tribulations for them, but now you've mentioned it….only kidding! I prefer to go for the less obvious – as you may have noticed.