UNWANTED INVITATIONS

Thank you for all of the reviews, you guys are the best! I had a request to write longer chapters and since I was sick and school is out I had plenty of time to write. So here it is! Enjoy!

Thin beams of sunlight filtered through the blinds of the window and the birds outside created a raucous as they took turns dive-bombing the dirt for ill-fated earthworms. Nature's soundtrack penetrated into Ron's dream so that what was once a peaceful visual of he and Hermione eating ice cream by that silly fountain of hers was now a chaotic image of them being bombarded by pigeons that pecked at their hair and nibbled at their ice cream.

Ron suddenly awoke with a jerk as one of the birds gave a loud squawk before flying off with its prized earthworm. Ron sighed and attempted to go back to sleep. The room was hot and stuffy though and the sounds of chatter coming from down stairs made him feel he should probably be up and about anyways. Ron made to get out of bed but stopped suddenly when he realized he was restricted from movement by another body.

Hermione was peacefully asleep at his side with her head rested on his chest, her arm wrapped tightly around his waist. Ron was about to wake her until he realized he couldn't bring himself to do it. She looked so peaceful and he didn't want to disturb that. The girl had been working so hard preparing for the wedding and if anyone deserved to sleep in it was her.

Ron then carefully shifted to the side and out of her embrace, moving slowly and steadily as not to wake her. As he successfully crawled out of the tiny bed he looked back. Hermione was now rolled over on her side facing the window and clutching his pillow. He smiled warmly at her before tiptoeing out of the bedroom.

As he made his way down the rickety old stairs he could hear the sound of dishes clanking, watering running, and people talking rapidly. He turned the corner into the busy kitchen where Mrs. Weasley was at the sink washing dishes along side a pretty blonde. Ron squint his tired eyes at her trying to form some sense of recognition. He didn't realize that it was the one and only Fleur Delacour until he spotted his older brother, Bill digging through the cupboards. Bill and Fleur had gotten married two years ago after the couple discovered that Fleur was pregnant. Mrs. Weasley had been furious! Children before marriage was not her way.

Ron cleared his throat and received the attention of all three occupants.

"Oh, Ron," Cried Mrs. Weasley happily. "Sit, sit, and have some breakfast!"

Ron nodded in thanks before his brother approached him and embraced him in a firm hug. "Congratulations!" He said with a hearty laugh.

"Thanks," Ron replied. He was about to take a seat and eat when Bill took hold of his shoulder.

"Ron," He said in a low enough voice so that Mrs. Weasley and Fleur couldn't hear him. "I'm arranging a bachelor party for you on Friday night."

Ron's voice caught in his throat and he could feel his ears turning red.

"A-a Bachelor party?" Ron whispered with shock. The only thing he could think about when he heard the words 'bachelor party' was Hermione strangling him.

"Yeah, mate," Bill said with a wide smile. "Just us guys: Harry, Charlie, the twins, and maybe even Dad."

"What about Percy?" Ron asked. His brother Percy had made amends with the family a little more than a year ago during the end of the war.

Ron saw Bill cringe slightly and sigh. "Not inviting Percy. No fun. The wanker would probably rather stay here and do make-overs with the girls anyways."

Ron held back a snort of laughter. He wouldn't be surprise if Percy came out of the closet one day.

"Okay, but what does Fleur think about this?" Ron asked nervously. Bill's wife might be fine with her husband gallivanting around, but he was quite sure that Hermione would kill him.

To Ron's surprise, Bill frowned and shook his head; his fang earring swung menacingly at the side of his head.

"Well," He said. "She doesn't exactly know. I wasn't planning on letting any of the women know."

Ron had a bad feeling about this, but a bachelor party did sound like good fun.

"Yeah. Okay, let me know when you have more details."

Bill nodded and patted him on the back happily. Ron was about to sit down to his eggs and bacon once more when he heard a loud jumble of laughter and screams. He turned around to see Hermione's tiny form trudging around the corner with two children attached to each leg. One was a small boy with chubby pink cheeks and the other was a skinny girl with sparkling blue eyes. Both had shiny, strawberry-blonde hair and a few freckles scattered across their cheeks.

Hermione looked up at them all with a mixture of amusement and frustration.

"Bill," She gasped. "I found your children!"

Bill smiled at her and shrugged nonchalantly. "I wasn't looking for them."

Bill was surprised when he was slapped over the back of the head by his mother who had been standing right behind him. He cringed and rubbed his head.

"Don't treat my grandchildren like that, William!" She scolded and rescued Hermione from the terrible twosome.

Mrs. Weasley, Fleur and Bill proceeded out of the kitchen leaving behind Hermione and Ron.

Hermione sighed with relief and picked up one of the smaller boxes from off the floor.

"What are those?" Ron asked as he sipped on his coffee.

Hermione lugged it over to the table and set it down hard.

"Invitations," She replied.

"We're going to do them now?" Ron asked sadly.

"We should have done them ages ago!" She retorted and took a seat next to him after pouring herself a cup of coffee.

She then proceeded to open the box and pull out a pile of invitations and envelopes; all pearly white and swirled with peach colored text that announced the couples ceremony.

"I've got a list of all the guest so I'll write the addresses on the envelopes and you can put the invitation in, alright?" She asked and received a low grunt from Ron which over the years she had learnt meant 'yes'.

"All right then," Hermione chirped and advanced on the invitations with her quill in hand.

Ten minutes had past. Ron was done with breakfast, but still hungry. The room was quiet mainly due to the fact that the majority of the family was outside clearing the garden.

The invitation duty was quickly becoming tedious as Hermione handed him envelope after envelope to stuff with an invite.

"Hey guys!" Ginny called as she bounded through the kitchen with a large sack slung over her shoulder.

"I'm going over to Harry's to help him set up a few things," She said unconvincingly as she grabbed an apple to take with her.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Yeah right," he muttered under his breath and Hermione elbowed him in the side. "Ouch!"

Ginny heard him and stuck her tongue out like a six year old brat before leaving through the front door.

"I can't believe her," Ron sighed exasperatedly.

"Don't worry about her so much, Ron. Harry would never hurt her," Hermione consoled.

"It's not Ginny I'm worried about."

"Ginny has loved Harry since she was 10! She won't hurt Harry either."

The conversation ended there. Hermione continued to scroll down her list and jot down the addresses of different friends and family.

She had just finished the Patil sisters invite and the Longbottoms as she glanced at the list to read the next name. It read: "Viktor Krum."

Hermione's cheeks flushed and she bit her lip hard as she quickly wrote Viktor's name and address on the pearly envelope. She hesitated as she was about to pick it up and hand it to Ron, but decided quickly to put in viktor's invite later when Ron wasn't around. He'd throw a fit!

Hermione moved on to the next name and wrote 'Ernie MacMillan' on it before handing it to Ron. He took it and stuffed in the invite.

She moved on to the next.

"Aren't you going to hand me that one?" Ron asked.

Hermione's eyes grew wide. "What?" She asked with a high pitched voice.

"That one under you're hand. You forgot to hand it to me," He said and pointed to the envelope with Viktor's name on it.

Hermione blushed and suddenly felt very hot. Ron could not find out that she was inviting him. Ron hated Viktor!

"Oh, no, I didn't," She said, flustered. "I just messed up the address on that one. I'll throw it out later."

"I'll do it," Ron offered with a smile. "The trash is right over here."

Ron reached out his hand to her, waiting for the envelope.

"No! It's okay! I'll do it later!" She protested. Ron's smile faded and he looked her over suspiciously. Something was up. She didn't want him to see the envelope for some reason.

He shrugged. "Alright." And dropped his hand but not his gaze.

He watched his wife and as Hermione moved her hand to reach for a blank envelope Ron shot out his own hand and snatched the forbidden envelope from her.

Hermione quickly reacted and leaped at him.

"Ron, No!" She yelled. Ron sprang from his chair laughing at her attempt to stop him. He struggled to get free of her constant efforts to grab the envelope back, but was successful in keeping it from her. She really didn't want him to see whatever it was.

Hermione had to get it back. After trying and failing several times she hopped up onto her chair and leapt onto Ron's back; wrapping her legs around his waist, strangling him with one arm and reaching for the envelope with the other.

"Ron! Give it back!" She shouted. Her weight, plus lack of air finally made him fall forward onto the table, the envelope still clutched firmly in his hand. Both of Hermione's hands were now fighting him for the prized piece of paper. He continued to laugh playfully at their predicament.

"Hey, Friends!" Called a cheerful voice followed by a loud 'Crash'.

Hermione held Ron down, but turned to see Fred and George standing in the doorway with shocked looks on their faces. Fred had dropped his butterbeer.

"WOW!" Fred uttered.

"Sorry for interrupting," George added.

Hermione didn't say anything but shifted off of Ron's back.

"Doesn't look like we needed to have that talk with you, mate," Said Fred, winking. "That's an interesting position."

"Fred," George said turning to his twin. "We REALLY need to go on a camping trip!"

The twins laughed jovially as they proceeded up stairs.

Hermione glared after them, her face red and her hair a mess. She turned around to see Ron holding the envelope in his hand looking very angry.

Hermione lowered her eyes and bit her lip.

"Krum? You're inviting Krum?" He scolded.

Hermione's head shot up, her fury sparked.

"He's my friend!" She yelled.

"Your friend that tried to hurt you!" He said while shaking the envelope at her.

"That was a long time ago! He only tried to kiss me, it wasn't a big deal!" She said. Back in sixth year Viktor had tried to get friendly with her and proceeded after protests. Hermione had hexed him good and Ron had taken the liberty to give him a decent beating.

"I can't believe your inviting him after what happened!"

"Ron! HE-IS-MY-FIREND! I forgave him, just like I forgive you all the time for some reason!"

"How dare you compare me to him!" Ron said looking sincerely offended.

"I don't care if you like him! I do and I want him at the wedding!" Hermione screamed.

"So that's it?" Ron hissed his face beat red with anger. "You want him here so he can rescue you at the last minute and sweep you off to Bulgaria!"

Hermione shook with fury. Ron was such an absolute idiot! She didn't know what to say to him, but she didn't want to be anywhere near him. EVER!

"The wedding is off!" She hissed. "And if I had a ring I'd throw it at you!"

Hermione turned furiously on her heel and stormed out of the kitchen leaving an equally angry (and hurt) Ron behind. He sighed with frustration and ripped the envelope into pieces.

Hermione rushed out into the warm summer day, angry tears staining her cheeks. Ron was such an insufferable prat! He had to argue her on everything and she couldn't take it! Even after all they had been through he was still accusing her of being smitten with Viktor Krum. It wasn't fair at all. He had no right to boss her around like that and at the moment she couldn't stand him.

Hermione came to a stop at a small pond that was inhabited by two large ducks. She wiped at her eyes before folding her arms across her chest and taking in a jagged breath of air.

"Hey," said a soft voice from behind her.

Hermione turned around quickly to see Angelina Johnson smiling lightly at her.

"Hey," Hermione said shakily.

Angelina stepped up to her beside the pond.

"Have some of this," She said as she held out a small silver flask. "its how I get through my engagement with Fred."

Hermione looked at the flask wearily before taking it.

"Engagement?" She asked not aware of that step in their relationship. Angelina nodded.

"It's a secret. We don't want Molly making a big fuss out of it like she is for you and Ron," She answered and Hermione frowned. If there was a her and Ron anymore, she thought.

"Well," Said Hermione as she took a small swig from the flask. "While we're sharing secrets…" She said and held up the flask. "This is what got me into this situation in the first place."

Angelina gave her a quizzical look.

"When we were on our trip," Hermione started timidly. "Ron and I got really drunk and ended up getting married without knowing it."

Angelina smiled approvingly at her. Hermione had never really known Angelina well, but she was aware of her 'wild-girl' reputation.

"I'm impressed," Angelina said. There was a moment's silence before she spoke again.

"So are you staying married because you don't want to disappoint his Mum or are you staying married because you love him?" She asked seriously.

Hermione sighed and her eyes watered up again. Of course she loved Ron; he just drove her absolutely crazy.

She didn't have to respond. Angelina knew the answer.

"Look," She said with a sisterly tone. "All Weasley men are the same; pissing you off is their way of showing affection. They were the boys on the playground who would shove your face in the sand and pull on your pigtails." She explained.

Hermione couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. That was definitely Ron.

"I can't count the amount of times that Fred has snuck Canary Creams in my dinner or stuffed live eels in my bed just to see me flip out. One time, he even accused me of sleeping with George!" Angelina said, elaborating her point. Hermione gave her an incredulous look. Who would be crazy enough to put up with Fred Weasley.

"Making women angry turns Weasley men on for some bizarre reason, and you, Hermione, get angry so easily that Ron must be the horniest bloke ever!"

Hermione laughed lightly again. "How do you put up with it?" She asked Angelina.

Angelina shrugged. "Other than the alcohol?" She joked. "I don't really have a method. I just know that I love him more than anyone and that feeling alone outweighs all the others."

Hermione nodded. Angelina was right. Despite all the fighting, Hermione couldn't imagine her life without being with Ron.

"My point is that Ron REALLY loves you, he just has a unique way of expressing it." Angelina explained.

"Go talk to him," She added before taking back her flask with a wink. "I'll need this," She stated as she turned and left.

Hermione's tears had dried and she smiled lightly. The argument between her and Ron was extremely stupid and it didn't matter whose fault it was. She loved Ron more than anything and she wanted to be married to him for the rest of her life. The only trick was to pluck up enough courage to go and apologize.

Ron lay on his bed starring up at the ceiling while throwing a small ball against it repeatedly and catching it. He sighed deeply. So this is what it felt like to be heart broken, he thought.

Hermione had just dramatically called off the wedding and it was his entire fault. Why did he always have to over-react when it came to sodding Viktor Krum? Yes, he hated the guy, but it wasn't that he didn't trust Hermione around him it was the other way around! Now, because of his stupid temper Hermione was gone.

"Knock, Knock,"

Ron didn't look towards the sound of knocking on the door. He wasn't in the mood for visitors.

"Go away!" He said grumpily.

"It's me," Called back a timid voice.

Ron recognized the voice immediately and his heart leapt.

"Hermione?" He called in surprise as he dashed towards the door. He hadn't expected to see her for awhile.

He opened the door to reveal a very shy looking Hermione. She looked up at him with uncertain eyes.

"Can we talk?" She asked simply.

Ron swallowed hard and ushered her in fearfully. This was it. She was going to break it off officially. Did he even stand a change if he tried to apologize?

Hermione paced halfway across the room before stopping and turning.

Ron held his breathe. Here it comes.

"I'm sorry," She said quickly.

"If that's what you want-what!" He asked, finally realizing what she had just said.

"I said 'I'm sorry'," She repeated nervously.

"Oh!" He said and quickly realized he should have said something a bit more meaningful.

"I still want to be with you," Hermione added.

This time Ron's lips broke into a smile.

"Even though I'm a stupid prat?" He asked and Hermione laughed lightly.

"Call me crazy," She said.

"Believe me, I have," He replied with a chuckle. "I'm sorry too," he then added sincerely.

Hermione smiled and Ron opened his arms widely to her. She stepped up to him and they shared a long, loving embrace.

This feeling definitely far outweighed the others.

I hope you liked it. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, but still hopefully good. Let me know what you think, your feedback is treasured!