Chapter 9- Hermione's Day
"Ginny," Cathryn said, shaking her roommate lightly. "Ginny. It's almost eight."
Ginny sat up bolt straight. "What? Eight? I have to be there!" Quickly Ginny stood and started going through her closet trying to find her dress.
"You left it at your parents', remember?" Cathryn said, turning on the light in their room.
"Oh yeah," Ginny said, changing to finding some sweatpants and shirt to throw on. "What about my make-up," she asked frantically.
"Ginny! Ginny!" Cathryn said grabbing Ginny by her shoulders and looking at her in the eyes. "You are the Maid of Honor… Hermione will freak out if you keep this up. Someone is going to be at The Burrow to do your hair and make up. Your dress is there. I have eggs for you to eat before you go. BREATH."
Ginny followed orders and went out to eat the dry eggs and burnt toast quickly. Next Cathryn gave Ginny some Floo powder and a quick hug. "Have fun," Cathryn said with a smile. "See you later."
Ginny threw in the powder, stepped into the grate that Arthur had set up for the day, and said 'The Burrow'. The trip was shorter than most, and threw Ginny off guard, as she landed and fell into the living room where some people laughed and someone else came and picked her up.
"Are you okay?" Molly asked as she assisted her daughter.
"Been a while since I've done that," Ginny said, standing and brushing herself off.
Many different cousins, aunts, and other distant relatives—all female—came up and fussed over Ginny as they dusted her off, got her more food—which she had to accept since they were all like her mother—and asked her a million questions. Isn't this supposed to be what they're doing to Hermione? She wondered. When she was done with the large breakfast, she started making her way up to her old room, where Hermione was sitting, being fussed over more than Ginny had been.
"Ginny!" Hermione said happily. "Where have you been?"
"I was held hostage by food," Ginny replied. "Oh Hermione, you look beautiful," Ginny said. Hermione was still in her flannel pajamas, but had already been having her hair and makeup done for the last few hours.
Hermione blushed slightly and looked down. "Your cousins are good at this fashion thing," Hermione complimented.
"What happened to your aunt who does make-up?"
Hermione had to press her lips together to keep from laughing. "She kept noticing too many magical things. Aunt Jean is a bit out of it."
"Memory charms?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded. "Oh well. We'll be at the park soon right?"
"Yes, so you better go get ready," Hermione said urgently.
Ginny nodded and hugged Hermione tightly and went to find where the other bridesmaids were getting ready.
Ginny took a deep breath as she heard the wedding march begin. She stood in the front of two other girls that wore the same fluffy dresses in different pastel colors. As the ushers opened the door, Ginny took in the sight of family and friends filling the pews. On the right, Ginny saw many Muggles, dressed accordingly, ooing and ahing as she started down the aisle. On her left, she saw her niece tug on Tonks's skirt, whispering something. Further up, Fred and George were giving her the thumbs up. And straight ahead of her was Ron.
Ron smiled a nervous smile as Ginny walked slowly down. To Ron's left stood Harry, with a smile of his own for Ginny. For a moment things reversed in Ginny's mind. She was no longer wearing a light pastel blue, but white; a pure white dress with taffeta underneath. Harry was waiting for her at the end of this short walk. He was smiling easily, looking handsome in his suit with a red rose in the front pocket. Ginny's smile widens as she looks down for just a moment with a bride's blush rising to her cheeks.
Ginny takes one more step with a smile, realizing this isn't her day and Harry isn't her groom. Ginny turned to her left slightly, standing to the side of the gazebo where the ceremony would take place. The other bridesmaids followed suit and stood to the side of Ginny. After Hermione's young cousin walked down, everyone in the chairs stood and looked back as Hermione was escorted in by her father.
Ginny smiled as she heard people muttering about how wonderful Hermione looked and making comments about the dress. When Hermione got to the front, Ron lifted her veil and took Hermione by the hand. Together they stepped up and stood in front of the priest performing the ceremony.
Ginny felt tears coming to her eyes even before the vows were made. She had helped Hermione with hers, but wasn't sure what to expect from Ron. When it came, there was no holding back the tears.
"Hermione, I've heard before that your wife will be your best friend, but I never expected that friendship could mean so much. We've been through everything together. Trolls, studying, O.W.L.s, N.E.W.T.s, balls, Quidditch matches—which you went to whether or not you actually wanted to—losses, gains, and many manners of arguments. I've gone through Bulgerians, dragons, and spiders to get to you, and I'd do it all again, even the spiders," Ron said with a smile. Everyone who knew what that meant gave a small laugh as Hermione wiped a tearful eye. "I've seen you smile and frown, and I want to spend the rest of my life and all of my love keeping the smile on."
Ginny bit her lips together, trying to hold herself together, pride towards her brother overflowing at that moment. When she had been told Ron would be writing his own vows, it worried her slightly. Hermione smiled and handed her bouquet over to Ginny as she took out her neatly folded paper and cleared her throat. "It was a long road, one I never saw. There were bumps and stop signs, but the road always led to you. I tried to take the steering wheel at times and go another way, but you steered me back, and I don't care to ride with anyone but you from now on."
Choked up, Hermione folded the paper again and the priest finished, asking if anyone objected. No one did, of course. Ron and Hermione were thrown together by fate, Ginny thought as she stood there. Ginny wondered if fate was busy conspiring against her as well. She looked at Harry again and wondered. Ginny pulled herself out of those thoughts once more as Ron and Hermione shared their first kiss as a married couple.
Everyone stood as the wedding party exited. Immediately, they were pulled aside to start taking pictures. One of the photographers started situating everyone into a perfect arrangement. Picture after picture was taken and it was started to get more difficult with some of the people getting anxious and the luncheon time arriving quickly. Soon all but the bride and the groom were dismissed and the photographer started taking them around to different areas around the large garden park.
Ginny was walking towards the cars when Harry came up to her. "Ginny, you look fabulous," Harry said.
Ginny looked down. "Thank you," she said. "Do you think I can stop smiling now?" she asked putting on a ridiculously large grin to show every tooth possible.
Harry laughed. "Yeah, I think you're safe," he said. Harry leaned over and put his arm around Ginny's waist. "Can you believe they're actually married?"
"No," Ginny sighed. "About time, though, right?"
"Yeah," Harry said. "About time." There were a couple minutes of silence as they just walked to the car. "Ginny," Harry finally said, turning Ginny to face him. "I wanted to talk to you."
Ginny smiled and tried to play things casually. "I don't know. Every time we talk things don't seem to go right," she said.
"But I need to," Harry said seriously. "Ginny, I've been a real prat."
"Harry," Ginny said. "Don't, not now."
"Why not?"
"Let's just go to the luncheon," Ginny suggested, holding her hand out for him. "Come on."
Harry gave Ginny a lopsided grin and tangled his fingers in hers as they made the last little stride towards the nearly loaded cars to go over to the Grangers'.
The reception was nearly halfway through when the DJ—one of Hermione's uncles—announced that Ron and Hermione would have their first dance as a married couple. A Muggle song started playing as Hermione and Ron stood to the applause of everyone in the country club ballroom and met in the middle of the room. Ron took Hermione's hand and put his arm in the small of her back. Amid flashes and the chattering of the guests, Ron and Hermione just looked at each other, lost in their own little world. The song started to end and Hermione's uncle once again announced that the next dance would be for the bridal party.
Ron offered his hand to his own mother as Hermione went to dance with her father. Harry came up behind Ginny and whispered, "May I have this dance?"
"Yes," Ginny whispered back and allowed herself to be led onto the floor as a gentle guitar plucked. "Did I tell you earlier that you look quite sharp in that tuxedo?"
"No," Harry said. "It's good to know, though. I haven't worn Muggle clothes since Hogwarts." Harry said this with a smile. Ginny didn't remember a time when a thought like this didn't throw Harry close to depression. Hogwarts generally reminded him of horrors and memories he had long repressed to dreams.
"You should do so more often," Ginny said.
If you wait for me then I'll come for you
Although I've traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart
If you think of me, if you miss me once in awhile
Then I'll return to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart
"How has work been?" Harry asked.
"Work," Ginny said quietly. "They're talking about jobs opening up in Germany, but I don't think Lance will let me go anywhere."
"He's always needed you there," Harry said. "He's smart to realize it."
Ginny looked down and grinned before looking back up at Harry. "Aren't you all charm tonight," she said.
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
If you dream of me like I dream of you
In a place that's warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart
"What about you?" Ginny asked. "What have you been doing at work?"
"Pretty much the same," Harry said, getting quiet suddenly.
Ginny didn't want it to be that way when there was still much of the song to go. "I… I'm sorry about Christmas, Harry," said Ginny. "I should have thought how things would have gone before inviting anyone."
"That's okay," Harry said quickly. "I shouldn't have… I shouldn't have acted so immature."
"So long as you realize that's what that was," Ginny teased. "When did you learn to dance anyway?" Ginny asked, changing the subject.
Harry smiled wide. "Ron and I took lessons when Hermione told us we had to."
"Well Ron, yes," Ginny said.
"No, me too. Hermione had me on strict orders not to look like an idiot," Harry informed Ginny. She laughed.
Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise if it's one that you can keep, I vow to come for you
If you wait for me and say you'll hold
A place for me in your heart.
The song ended and Harry twirled Ginny back and dipped her. "May I have a kiss?" he asked softly.
Ginny smiled. "You may."
Harry leaned down and kissed Ginny lightly as he brought her back upright. Taking her right hand in his, Harry brought her hand up to his lips. "Thank you for the dance," he said before leaving to get ready for the skit he was doing with Fred and George. Ginny tried to suppress a smile as she went to get a drink.
A/N: That one took me a while… even with three days to do it. I hope it was worth the wait, though. The song lyrics are from Tracy Chapman's song 'The Promise'. Please Review!
Thank you:
Freakin-person: To both of you! I appreciate the comments. Hope you enjoy this one.
Creatively Crazy: Well… here's the answer to your question. I think inviting Draco to the wedding would have been just too much. Besides I needed to give Harry a bit of a chance. I'm still not telling… won't tell! Nope!
Jamiebell: I'm working on the editing thing… I'm going to go through the last chapter and edit it before I post this one, so I hope this one doesn't disappoint you like that one did. I'm rather sure that you'll like this one, filled with RHr and HG fluff as it is ;)
Mrs. Potter: I'm glad you like this. Thanks for the review.
Hermione30: You think Draco's being nice? He's not being nice… he's being nice to who he decides deserves any shred of kindness.