Hey everyone! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while! Bad Taylor! But I'll try to update faster....anyway... Serindipity9 I still haven't answered your question but the people needed wasn't in this chapter so I obviously couldn't. But, I'll try next time!
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all! squee....
Chapter 4: The Worst yet, Best part of getting married
"Hermione! You need to get up now or else we are going to be late!" yelled a voice from the kitchen.
Hermione stumbled down the hallway and grabbed a towel from the hall closet. She, then, shuffled into the bathroom and turned on the shower to help her wake up more. When Hermione was out of the shower she quickly walked to her room to get dressed. Hermione knew she wasn't one to care about her looks, but today was special, so, she decided, just once, she would actually put time into getting ready.
Hermione rummaged through her closet and pulled out a lavender tank top and a pair of designer jeans. She dressed quickly and went to the bathroom to plug in her flat iron and apply some makeup. When Hermione was finished she had her hair straight and with only the front strands pulled back and she had a touch of makeup on her eyes and cheeks.
With only fifteen minutes to spare Hermione raced down the stairs to squeeze in breakfast. Hermione opened the refrigerator to find her choices and decided that her usual buttered toast and orange juice would have to do. Just as Hermione was finishing the last of her toast, a tall woman with bushy chestnut hair walked in. The woman had soft motherly eyes and a smile that was worth is work. She was dressed in jeans and a plain white shirt. Her bushy hair was somewhat tamed into a ponytail and her face lit up as she saw her daughter sitting at the kitchen table.
"Are you ready, dear? We have to be on time for the appointment or else they could just take someone else."
"Yeah, mum. Just let me finish this and grab my purse," said Hermione showing her mother the cup of juice in her hand.
Within five minutes they were out the door and heading toward Marry and Anne's Bridal Gowns.
The small black Voltzwagon rolled along an alley and turned to reveal a whole street with nothing but bridal shops. Hermione was in aw as she looked at all the different stores. Mrs. Granger pulled into a near-by parking lot and pulled into the approaching space. Hermione immediately jumped out of the car ready to begin the search for the perfect dress.
First, they went to Mary Anne's Bridal Gowns. When Hermione stepped inside the store she felt a cool sensation that was different from the humid and hot weather that was outside. She looked around at the display dresses as her mother went to the front desk to check in. Hermione went around feeling the fabrics of the dresses trying to decide which she would like the most. Soft, smooth, silky, rough?
Within minutes a saleswoman was calling Hermione's name to come to the back room with her. Hermione tore herself away from the display and met the woman by the hallway leading to where most of the dresses were."Hello," the woman said in a very feminine and cheerleader-ish voice. (A/N Making this character grossed me out. Cheerleaders...eck!) " My name is Samantha, or Sam if you wish." Sam was a tall and thin woman with beautiful features. Her long sandy-blonde hair fell in a sheet down to her mid-back and her soft blue eyes gazed at Hermione excitedly.
Hermione grimaced as she said a greeting. She knew that this was going to be a long visit, considering Hermione knew that Sam was going to annoy her with her overly cheerful attitude.
Sam led them down the hall talking about where most of the gowns came from and which designers the store carried. Soon, they reached a doorway and Samantha led Hermione and her mother through to show them a room filled with hundreds of wedding dresses. Hermione clapped a hand to her mouth never thinking there could be so many different dresses.
Samantha spun around to face Hermione, leaving her hair to fall over her shoulders. "Well, first lets narrow the amount of dressed down to a select few. What kind of dress do you want? Like, what style, color, fabric, and so on," asked Sam as she clasped her hands in front of her while she spoke.
"Well. Ummm. Lets see. I always dreamed of a white dress. So, the color would definitely be white. Oh, and, I would like it be strapless or spaghetti strap with a fitting top but more puffy and more fabric as it reaches the hips. If it were strapless I would either want the back to be open to a point or not open are all. Or, if it have spaghetti straps I want it to have an open back that ends in a point. Oh and NO bows. I want it to be simple, yet, elegant. Not way too flashy." Hermione stopped and sighed while trying to think if there was anything else she wanted. Not being able to think she finished with, "I think that covers it."Samantha let out a low whistle before regaining her posture. "H'okay. I know a few dresses we can find for and a see if you like them I'll be right back." Sam hurried off grabbing a rack for Hermione and placing random dresses on it.
Hermione wait patiently over on the fluffy cream colored couches that sat against a near by wall. Hermione looked around and noticed a few wedding magazines sitting on the table in front of the sofa. She picked up a stray publication and started thumbing through the pages, stooping at certain things she liked and disliked. Nearing the end of the magazine there was a check list of what to do for your wedding. Hermione read down the list eagerly and nudged her mom with her elbow to get her attention.
"Mom, can you write these down so I can have a some-what organized way of trying to plan this wedding.""Sure love, but there may be some things you want to eliminate or add so don't go just by this list."
"OK. I'll just type it up and look it over when we get....."
"All ready! I have a dressing room and dresses waiting for you just this way, Miss," the saleswoman said happily, walking towards a door on the other side of the room. Hermione slowly took in a deep breath and pushed herself up to follow Sam and begin what could be hours of changing, decision making, and many head aches.
"Okay, so first we will try this one on," Samantha said as she took the first dress of the rack. The first dress Hermione didn't like at all. The frock was to girlie for her like and as soon as she had it on she took it off. The next gown, however Hermione liked a lot better.
The wedding dress was strap-less with a pointed back. There was a slit in the front and back of the dress while the top was fitted. It was made of satin that covered Hermione's torso and flowed down to the tops of her ankles. Samantha put pens on the garment to show how it would look if it were altered. Hermione carefully walked out of the dressing room and stepped onto a platform with a 3-way mirror so she could examine the dress from all angles.
"Hermione! It's gorgeous," Mrs. Granger exclaimed. She walked toward Hermione to feel the material and get a closer look.
"Do you really like it?" Hermione asked as she gave her mother a skeptical look.
"Actually, now that I see it up close, I don't like it at all," Mrs. Granger replied. She knew her daughter wasn't crazy about the dress and didn't want Hermione to get something she didn't like. Hermione's shoulders dropped in relief before she rushed back to the changing room to try on the next dress. Hermione went through a few more robes before she found one she actually liked."Mom! I LOVE this one! This could be it! I could have found my perfect dress by going to only one store!" Hermione squealed as she came out of the dressing room quickly to see the dress from all angles."Now, honey, you have a few more dressed to try on so don't completely attach to this one. Make sure you absolutely love the dress before making the decision," Mrs. Granger said. She walked up to Hermione and took a closer look at the gown. The dress was very simple and very elegant. The strapless top was decorated with a bunch of shimmering bead that only covered the chest. The top went straight across with the exception of a simple dip. The back was closed and went down to a line of the same glistening beads. Where the jewels stopped the fabric puffed out slightly and flowed to the floor.
Hermione twirled in the dress to get a good feel for it before stopping to look into the mirror once again. Her left hand slowly came up in front of her as she looked at the ring she had grown so accustomed to gazing at over the past few weeks. It assured her the Harry loved her no matter what and she would always be safe with him. The ring gave her a protected feeling in her heart.
Hermione slowly descended the steps and made her way back to the dressing room to finish her quest for the perfect gown. The next frock Hermione thought wasn't as beautiful as the last one and none of the others matched the elegance of the earlier dress.
Hermione was tired of trying on dresses and by the last dress she knew that the earlier one was going to be her wedding gown. However, to please her mother Hermione slipped on the last robe. It was made of a satin fabric and was a shimmering pearl white. The top was low cut and had straps that wrapped around her neck. The dress wasn't extremely fitting but it did show off Hermione's figure. The garment was completely plain and the satin fabric flowed all the way to the ankles in one piece. The back of the dress had a low dip that reached Hermione's lower back. It was very elegant and remarkably beautiful.
Hermione gasped as she turned around and saw the dress in the mirror of the wall. It looked magnificent. The pearl color fit perfectly with her creamy tan skin and made Hermione look exquisite. She rushed out of the dressing room and stood in front of the 3-way mirror to examine the frock in every way. Hermione's mother quietly walked over in aw as she saw her daughter.
"Mom, this is definitely my dress," Hermione said as a smile grew bigger and bigger on her face.After Hermione had slipped out of the dress she was measured and back to her normal clothing. The store was to make an order for the gown and Hermione would come back later to get the dress.
The jingle of a bell sounded as Hermione and her mother re-entered the heat to drive home. The whole time Hermione thought of how wonderful her wedding was going to be. She was already starting to plan it in her head.