Disclaimer: Read the top of each of the last chapters.
Hello! Hmm...I feel bad. I'm updating this story in such quick succession and yet my other story is sitting unfinished. LOL...oh well.
mystikalolo: Yeah, yeah. Surprise! He's still alive! I liked Mrs. Wong too. I know, it's meant to be light. In fact I kind of wish it could be darker. LOL...but I'm planning a new R/Hr story which will come out later on.
hjpchick: Yeah I like cliffhangers too.
Mental357: I fully understand the 'mental' part in your pen name now.
PinkyTheSnowman: Haha yeah. Poor Mrs. Wong...Oh yeah! I almost forgot about Ross' monkey! LOL...coincidence.
piratingspiderelf: I LOVE the Killers. I own hot fuss and I love Brandon Flowers! His name seems like it would suit a character from Spongebob Squarepants to me for some reason.
azn flame92: Well at least now you know.
AmyChris: This is a very quick update for me but I promised.
daddysgirl101989, Weasel Princess: I loved all those cakes too. Very mouth-watering.
Thanks to: Magic and Sparkle, Mist Emoun Tains, dancerrdw, pyrolord and TheDaughterofKings.
'Marriage is a three ring circus: engagement ring, wedding ring and suffering'-Anonymous
"Ron, Hermione," Seamus said, smiling, "What a pleasant surprise to see you two here."
He truthfully he did seem surprised. What shocked Ron even more that the 'pleasant' part didn't seem to be some polite lie on his part. He was grinning like he was looking at a baby playing in a field full of daisies.
Even though they were both caught off guard, Hermione was the first to recover.
"Hello Seamus," Hermione greeted, smiling uncomfortably.
Ron squirmed under the pressure as well. No matter how cordial each of them were, none could deny the awkwardness of the situation. After all a couple coming upon on of their ex's was extremely uncomfortable but it was even more so in their case. Ron had taken Hermione from Seamus on the night he proposed to her in a matter of speaking.
"Ron, how good to see you," Seamus said, his teeth still gleaming at him in an almost sickeningly friendly way.
"Yeah...," Ron murmured, "You too."
This situation could hardly get more awkward.
Seamus seemed not to notice his red ears and how much he'd fumbled over his own words, "So what brings you two here?"
Ah. Of course what Ron always forgot was that everything could always get more awkward. Ron looked to Hermione to explain the reason they were at the florist's.
"Uh...well," Hermione started, sounding for the first time, uncertain what to say, "Well actually Ron and I are planning to get married. And we're here for flower arrangements and all."
A slow silence slided over them. Ron preoccupied himself with a petunia near his elbow.
"What brings you here?" Hermione added, quickly.
Seamus' face only darkened. Goodness, was he upset? Poor bloke. Ron supposed he'd be upset if his ex-girlfriend and old classmate were getting married too. He felt he had to interrupt the silence.
"Seamus, I'm sorry, mate-" Ron started but Seamus cut him off.
"Haven't you two got the invitations yet?" Seamus asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Huh?" Ron awed.
"What invites?" Hermione questioned, eyebrows raised.
"Well I'm getting married too. That's why I'm here," Seamus explained, "But I thought I'd sent you two the invites already."
"Oh," Ron said, suddenly feeling much better, "No we haven't. But then again we haven't checked out mailbox for two days, have we, Hermione?"
He put an arm around her and relaxed a bit. If Seamus was with someone else and happy enough to get married than he need not worry about showing his affection for Hermione in front of him. However, Hermione seemed to be thinking along a different scale.
"Married?" she breathed, slowly, "You're getting married?"
Seamus nodded, "And so are you! And with Ron at that! Funny how these things work out, isn't it?"
Ron grinned also, "All too true. So where's your fiance?"
"Not sure," Seamus shrugged, "Probably somewhere around here. Just trailing off, you know how they are."
Ron laughed, slightly in agreement and Hermione managed to give a weak smile. Ron stared at her solidly. What was wrong with her?
"Well I better get off and look for her," Seamus said, looking around, "I'll see you around. Hopefully at the wedding reception?"
"Of course," Ron assured him, taking full control of the conversation on the account of Hermione seemed temporarily petrified.
With that Seamus was off. Ron waited till he was out of hearing vicinity before turning towards Hermione.
"What's with you?" Ron demanded, biting his lip.
Hermione broke out of her stupor at his voice, "Seamus' engaged..."
She looked like she wanted to continue the sentence but never got around to it because she was lost in her thoughts. Ron couldn't believe what he was hearing. Hermione was possibly jealous or worried or caring about Seamus? Did she want to be his girlfriend again or something?
"So?" Ron asked, in a slightly more sharper tone than he would've liked, "Who cares? Do you want to be the girl he's marrying or something?"
"Of course not!" Hermione cried, getting red, "It's just a bit demeaning!"
"What is?" Ron exclaimed, his voice getting loud and shrill, "Why do you even care? He wanted to propose to you and you said no! When did you say yes to him and no to me if you're so jealous?"
"I'm not jealous!" Hermione shouted, causing people around them to turn and stare.
Ron's ears got redder and Hermione's face was flushing quickly.
"Then why are we arguing?" Ron yelled, starting to get frustrated.
"We're not!" Hermione trumpeted, "You're just yelling!"
"Fine! If my yelling is bothering you while you're thinking about Seamus so much then I'll go yell elsewhere!" Ron shouted, one last time before stomping off.
He wasn't quite sure where he was going but anything to leave that embarrassing scene was better than nothing. Witches and wizards stared at him as he went and he could feel Hermione's glare at the back of his neck. He was just walking past two particularly old witches when they broke out into a gossip fest over his argument with Hermione. He could be certain this would be in Witch Weekly soon enough.
Ron couldn't help but feel unappreciated and confused. He had been so certain that Hermione was in love with him that for a second he forgot how unsecure he'd been around her at one time. Maybe her love-their love-wasn't as strong as he'd intially thought. Why else would she go all gaga over Seamus? Hadn't she told him, herself, that she'd never loved him? Yet it only took one meeting and hearing that he was getting married to get her all hot and fussy.
Did she regret saying no that night in the park? Did it haunt her everyday? He'd remembered having that sort of feeling before he'd told Hermione he loved her. But now, maybe she felt that way about someone else?
He was just very greatful Marcel hadn't been there to witness the big argument. Ron had a feeling he would've taken Hermione's side instantly.
Ron rushed past a few more people, some who'd even had the nerve to ask him for his autograph at a moment like this and slumped down near a few daffodils and lilies. They were large enough to shelter him for the moment. He sat and sulked for a bit. Hopefully after he'd cooled off he could go find Hermione and have an actual conversation over what had just happened.
Was it his fault that he'd even asked? No, no, no was what his mind told him. He'd been right to be curious but perhaps he'd gone about it the wrong way. Ron heated up. Then again Hermione had sucked at explaining herself. Demeaning? What was so demeaning about Seamus getting engaged? Couldn't he be happy if Ron and Hermione were?
There was a distinct rustle nearby and suddenly Ron noticed a man, about his age, study the daffodils in admiration. Ron couldn't believe the admiration he saw in the wizard's eyes as he eyed the daffodil. His hand grazed a pale yellow petal.
"I like yellow," he spoke up, "What about you?"
Ron nearly jumped out of his skin at his voice. So he had known Ron was there and was acknowledging his presence in a nice sort of way. Ron imagined if the situation had been vice versa and he'd seen a man staring at him as Ron had been staring at this stranger, Ron would've acknowledged him in a creepp-stalker-like kind of way.
"Erm-Actually I hate yellow," Ron answered, truthfully.
"Makes sense," the wizard, nodded reasonably, picking a daffodil out of the bunch.
"Does it?" Ron inquired, intrigued by his man's strange behavior.
He came around and sat down beside Ron, on a wooden plank, "Of course. You're a redhead. Yellow always clashes with red hair."
Ron thought about it for a moment and decided the statement the man had just made was rather true. His main reason for hating yellow was because it looked so horrid on him.
"You're right," Ron admitted, staring at the daffodil the man twirled in his hand.
"But you have to remember," the man went on, "That yellow is also a very beautiful color on others. Others like the sun, honey, lemons and even this daffodil for explain look fantastic in yellow."
Ron nodded. He had no clue why he let this man sit here beside him and talk all this rubbish. But it seemed he was going somewhere meaningful with this.
"What color do you like?" the man questioned, sniffing in the scent of the daffodil.
"Blue," Ron said, without further thought.
"I hate blue," the man laughed, "It goes horribly with my amethyst eyes, you see."
Ron turned and for the first time studied the overall appearance of the man. He was taller than Ron was and had dark brown hair. Ron stared wistfully at his facial hair. Ron could never grow facial hair like that.
"So now you know different colors have different effects on different people," the man clarified, "It's the same with words and sudden information."
Ron raised an eyebrow. Could it be possible that all this talk of daffodils and colors could lead straight to his argument with Hermione?
"What you're saying is...?" Ron trailed off, "That even though what Seamus said didn't really effect, it could've affected Hermione in different ways?"
"Who's talking about Hermione?" the man implored, a single eyebrow raised.
Ron laughed, softly, "You must've heard us argue. The whole florist's heard us argue."
"True," the man agreed, "But I was only talking of colors. But I suppose Hermione-was that the pretty witch you argued with?-could often be compared to a flower. She needs nuturing and care and attention. But all flowers are different. She needs different things than you would."
Ron took the daffodil out of the man's hand and twirled it himself.
"Who's to say she never cared for Seamus? It's a big blow to find out someone you care for is getting married," the man continued, "She'll accept it eventually I'm sure. I mean there's no denying she loves you. After all you two have been through."
Now it was Ron's turn to pose a real mind numbing question, "How do you know all we've been through?"
The man smiled, "I think it's time I go."
For some reason Ron let him go without finding out how he knew what he knew. He sat there for a while longer and to his surprise found he wasn't angry at all anymore. In fact he was rather chirpy to go and find Hermione. Hopefully now they could make up.
He stood, placed the daffodil back among its family and was just about to take off in search of Hermione when she found him. She seemed to have cooled off too and gestured for him to sit down the the wooden plank once again.
They sat and a quiet waved them over. Ron, however, wasn't so very uncomfortable with it.
"I'm sorry, 'Mione," Ron said, being the first to beak the silence, "I shouldn't have been so accusing."
Hermione sighed, "Don't apologize. I would've been rather furious with you too. It's just-"
"Just what?" Ron cut in, causing Hermione to shoot him a look. He fell silent again.
"It's just weird, I guess. I mean I dated Seamus for three years and it took three years for him to propose to me," Hermione said, scratching her nose, endearingly, "And whoever he's with now...it took him only about a year to meet her and he's already proposed. I mean-what was wrong with me?"
"But he didn't love you, you knew that," Ron supplied, he still wasn't getting what all the fuss was about.
"I know...it's just hard to explain," Hermione went on, "The fact that I left such a small impression on him that he'd already fall in love and plan his wedding is just a bit self-destructing."
"Oh come on," Ron said, trying to make her feel better, "You've done the same thing to him and you don't seem him getting all worked up."
"That's because I always loved you," Hermione clarified, "He's only just met this person, probably."
"But what you're forgetting is the important part," Ron sighed, taking her hand, "That you've always loved me and I've always loved you. What else matters?"
Hermione looked at him in an impeccably strange way for a moment. It seemed that she was seeing him in a new light and found some sudden respect for him that wasn't quite there before.
"Nothing else matters," she smiled, closing the gap between them with a kiss.
Ron and Hermione had finally found Marcel and were on there way leaving the florist's. They had chosen their flower arrangement which was to be wild flowers and lilies in an array of bright colors. Even yellow. To Ron's surprised he was noticing how all this wedding business was beginning to come together. However the shining glory of the day was how he and Hermione had managed to patch up their first post-engagement fight.
Now on the best of terms they were just out of the florist's when they bumped into Seamus again. He standing around the very daffodils that Ron'd had the discussion with the man at.
"Find your flowers?" Seamus asked, holding a daffodil.
"Yes and you?" Hermione questioned in return.
"Yeah, these daffodils right here," Seamus answered, offering one to Hermione.
She took it gingerly, "Oh really? Where's your fiance?"
Seamus looked about, "Where in the world-? Alex just right here a second ago. Alex! Alex!"
Another rustle and then to Ron and Hermione's great surprise, the man came up and took Seamus' hand. The man. Ron had nothing against the obvious relationship between the man and Seamus but he'd just never thought Seamus was...gay?
Hermione seemed to be thinking along the same lines, "So, this is Alex?-weak laughter-How wonderful to finally meet you."
"Same to you," Alex grinned, and shook Hermione's hand, "And this must be your fiance?"
"Yeah," Hermione said, "This is Ron."
"Hello Ron," Alex greeted, "Nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about the two of you from Seamus."
Ron overcame his premier shock and managed to smile, "You too. Those are some very nice yellow daffodils you've got there."
Author's Note: Hello! Hello! Hello! PROMISE FULFILLED!
xoxo