Disclaimer: The day I own Harry Potter and his kingdom is the day that pigs will fly.
A/N:(((winky sings:A few times I've been around that track so it's not just gonna happen like that))) LOL...music is what makes the world go round. Too bad I don't have any musical talent. Oh and by the way, I'm going back to my original way of thank-you's. Personal notes to all! I'm on Spring Break so I thought I'd celebrate by giving some extra attention to the people who really matter while writing a fic, the reviewers.
dancerrdw: Thanks. Your reviews are short and sweet.
hjpchick: Thanks you. Seamus turning out gay was just a sort of spurr of the moment sort of thing.
Mental357: I think I'm almost starting to understand what your reviews mean. LOL...My cousin, Tanzina, also is a February baby and also has amethyst as her birthstone. I love amethyst eyes too! So hot...HAHA j/k.
daddysgirl101989: LOL...yay! I didn't know making Seamus gay would appeal to everyone so much but I guess it was one of the better parts of this story. I was in a horrible mood while writing last chapter but I made the promise. Glad it worked out well in the end. Many people are curious as to how Seamus turned gay. Someone actually asked me to write a story on it. Haha...well it all happened after he and Hermione broke up...
mystikalolo: I think Seamus is gay. Just plain gay in this story. It just took him a break up with Hermione to realize his sexuality and come out of the closet. Alex was the guy Ron was talking to earlier. Hmm...Seamus and Alex story? Who knows. LOL.
Weasel Princess: Welcome. It was a hard promise to keep but at least it's done with. Seamus turning out to be gay was very, very, unexpected even for me.
piratingspiderelf: Yeah it was rather surprisingly. I'm getting the impression you didn't get around to finishing your review since you stopped at the word 'I' Thanks anyways!
Magic and sparkle: Hey, yeah I never thought of it that way but I guess you're right.
pyrolord: Don't worry I don't really mind. I didn't expect Seamus to be gay and I guess it is quite the shocker.
TheDaughterofKings: Yeah, well it means that you are interacting with your soul mate. It doesn't mean you're snogging them. So perhaps Seamus was chatting up Alex just like Hermione was kind of falling for Ron.
Laury Weasley: Thanks for the enthuasiasm!
Grint'sBestGal: Yeah, pretty big shocker. Yup but it doesn't effect the general plot of the story very much and his fiance is very much nice.
PinkyTheSnowman: Thank you. I'm glad I managed to pull off something unexpected. The guy at the florist's that Ron was talking to was Alex. LOL.
jenn: I'm not a real fan of guy on guy stuff either. Actually it goes against all my religious teachings and crap but it won't be a huge part of the story.
i-h8-sclub: Thanks. Always nice to hear from people who liked His Hermione. I hope I can get it up to par so it eventually becomes as good as my last R/Hr shot.
thisisabstract: Firstly, thank you for the compliments. Real sweet. And secondly, when Seamus was with Hermione he didn't realize he was gay. But after they broke up he sort of came out of the closet.
mini veela: Cute pen name. Oh and believe me I never saw it coming either.
sjpgurl: Yeah I thought about that too hah...
Beware! I cracked and added a little bit of Drama!
'I would much rather have regrets about not doing what people said, than regretting not doing what my heart led me to do and wondering what life would've been like if I'd just been myself'- Brittany Renée
Whizzgate park and outdoor chapel was very beautiful. Of course Ron had thought that every single place he and Hermione had seen as a possible place to hold their wedding had been beautiful. But this was exceptional. Even he could tell that. The grass was such a peppermint green that it reminded him of the fields and slopes at Hogwarts. The chapel, if it could be called that, was made of a sort of chalky brown net. The manager of Whizzgate said it was possible to arrange their flowers on it so that the sunlight would be dimmed. Patches of it would make it's way through to give the whole large, chapel, a misty, morning glow feeling.
Hermione seemed enchanted by the marvelous view the Whizzgate provided for a wedding environment. Ron didn't think they really needed to talk over and decide that this was the best place they'd seen all day.
Ron was beginning to get an itch inside that told him that the day they were to be wed was drawing ever closer. And, when he began to think about it, he realized most of the planning was done. They had chose a cater, a cake, flowers, and Ron knew Hermione had only recently gone out and chosen a wedding gown. He, of course, needed his wedding robes but he knew it'd only take a twenty minute trip to Madame Malkin's with Harry to pick out an outfit. He didn't really care what he wore so long as he had Hermione on his arm by the end of this journey. Of course, he couldn't very well go to his own wedding wearing the worst dress robes among the lot. No, he'd be dishing out quite a few galleons for that perfect set of robes.
May had ended, and it was already the latter half of June. Before Ron knew it, it would be July fifteenth, the big day. He shivered for the strangest reason. He'd waited so long to be with Hermione. He was always so sure he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and yet he shivered? Just nerves...
"What do you think, Ron?" Hermione said, waking him from his thoughts, "Do you like the place?"
"Yeah, yeah. It's great...," Ron murmured in return.
He was rather frightened by his sudden attack of nerves. He had heard of cold feet before getting married but he didn't think he'd ever experience it. And it was still a good long while till the wedding. He'd feel much better by then. They still had a lot of things to do. Like choose music and Hermione had to chose bridemaid's dresses too. And all that stuff. There was still time.
"What's wrong with you?" Hermione questioned, an eyebrow raised.
"Wrong? Nothing," Ron mumbled back.
"Righhttt," Hermione prolonged, "You're horrid at lying. Now tell me the truth."
Ron knew he could always tell Hermione what was on his mind, how he felt without her teasing him too much but this simple fact wouldn't be as welcomed. It would hurt her feelings. Break her heart, possibly?
"I have a stomach ache," Ron lied, rubbing his soft, interior to emphasize the point.
Hermione bought it, "What did I tell you about eating that shrimp and that new flavor of ice cream?"
And she said he couldn't lie well. He could when he really needed to. Anybody could when they really wanted to. I mean, whoever said they were an honest man were lying very, very badly.
"But it was just so impossibly good!" Ron protested.
"If you get sick or anything before the wedding," Hermione continued, "There might not be a wedding."
"God forbid," Ron laughed, half-heartedly and pulled Hermione closer to him.
She frowned and muttered, "Prat," before sinking her head into his shoulder.
"Uh, Ron, Hermione told me not to let you buy that flavor of ice cream," Harry said, cutting into Ron's order, and smilingly added, "She said it gives you a tummy ache."
Ron blushed. He knew that lie was bound to backfire on him. The man behind the counter snickered and Ron's ears went red.
"Thank you for your imput, Harry," Ron replied, between clenched teeth, "But I think I can handle it."
Harry shrugged and began licking his own raspberry walnut cone. It was a strange sight to see them both, grown men, licking ice cream and strolling down Diagon Alley as if they were still in Hogwarts Second Year. Some people stopped it stare at the twosome who were quite the famous pair in their adult years and others even asked for autographs.
"So, to Madame Malkin's then?" Harry suggested, licking a side of the cone where the ice cream was dripping.
"Mmm," Ron agreed, "You don't think it's too weird that we're going shopping like this?"
"What? Two guys going to buy dress robes? Nah," Harry said in mock ignorance.
Ron laughed. Somehow Harry had always managed to make him feel good and rather special if it didn't sound too odd. After all Harry was the Boy-Who-Lived and he could choose to have any friend among the millions of wizards there were in the world but he chose Ron even though Ron didn't really have anything to offer him. Other than loyalty and his friendship that is. Perhaps that was just enough.
Madame Malkin's was full with people as usual. Mostly witches and even some Hogwarts students who were getting a headstart on buying school robes. Ron and Harry entered and immediately resembled a few geese among doves.
A sales witch glared at them, piercingly, "No food in the shoppe!"
Harry got rather flushed and Ron's ears were undeniably red. They took another ten minutes standing outside in the busy street licking their ice creams frantically because they didn't want to throw them away. They were too good. And both wizards knew better than to come back latter. If they left Madame Malkin's now they'd pass them the Quidditch store and then there would be no coming back.
Harry was taking longer than Ron to finish so typically Ron gave him a hearty shove and the scoop plopped right off his cone. Harry scowled but grudgingly left the ice cream as was and entered the shoppe.
This time they were met with the more inviting form of Madame Malkin, herself. She was getting older, they all knew but rumor had it that she took special potions to keep herself looking youthful.
"Why look here! Misters Potter and Weasley! How splendid," she cried, clapping her hands, "I'm guessing you're here for Mr. Weasley's wedding? Why of course it's the reason! Ursula, go get these boys some of the best wedding robes you can find."
The glaring sales witch was sent off into the back to find some of the most beautiful pieces. Madame Malkin's grinned and flaunted teeth that had undeniably been bleached white.
"Mr. Weasley weds Ms. Granger, how wonderful," Madame Malkin sighed, "I'm guessing you haven't sent out the invitations yet since I haven't received one?"
She stared at him dangerously for a moment. Ron shifted, uncomfortably.
"No, we haven't," Ron said, truthfully, "We plan on doing so next week."
Madame Malkin smiled, "How lovely."
Ron pondered over how many times Madame Malkin had said the word 'how' followed by some sickening happy word like splendid, wonderful or lovely. Three so far. He'd keep track. Harry brushed something off his robes and would soon sorely regret it because it made him catch Madame Malkin's attention.
"And you, Mr. Potter, planning on getting wed anytime soon?" Madame Malkin implored, stroking her neck.
"Erm...maybe not just yet," Harry responded.
"Oh I see," Madame Malkin smiled, in a sad-like manner, "Lady problems? I knew that blonde was rather out of it-"
"Oh no," Harry shook his head, "Just not the right moment."
Madame Malkin smiled sadly at him once again, "Remember boy. Men always date blondes but they all end up marrying brunettes. Isn't that right, Weasley?"
She followed this with a quick slap on Ron's thigh and he and Harry laughed in discomfort. Where was that sales witch with their robes?
The sales witch returned eventually, her hair in high curls. Black robe after black robe followed. Every wizard and witch had a signature color. Black. It was the color of their ancestors, each and every one of them. It was a color often related to magic. Black was also one of the few colors that didn't clash horribly with his hair color.
Ron promptly began trying on various robes. Luckily after the first five other customers entered the store and required Madame Malkin's attention. Ron breathed in the sweet air of relief. Harry leaned against a wall and watched Ron walk out in ridiculous robe after ridiculous robe. He would only give a small compliment but it would size by the whole outfit perfectly.
"Too puffy."
"Too furry."
"Too feminine."
"Too lacey."
"Too much of something you're mother would pick out for you."
"Too Lockhart."
Ron had to agree. This set of robes were black but had areas with lilac silk. It was too reminiscint of his ex-Professor. He headed back into the change rooms rather disappointed. Nothing pleased him quite as he would like. He grabbed another thing off the rack and considered not only what he would like but what would Hermione like? He wanted to please her also.
He suddenly found one that was perfect to Hermione's liking. And he found it rather endearing too. It was entirely white and black, cut crisp and simple. He'd look perfectly perfect in this robe. Pulling it on he headed out.
Harry looked rather drowsy but he was staying awake for his best mate's sake. His eyes widened slightly as Ron's entrance.
"How's this?" Ron asked, looking at himself in the mirror.
"It looks fabulous!" the mirror squealed, "It gives you shoulders!"
Harry nodded, "Ditto to what the mirror said. This is the best one."
Ron grinned. So he'd finally found a pair of robes. He headed back to the change room, sure he was going to buy it. That was when he'd noticed it. A black robe, quite at the bottom of the pile. He pulled it out from under the rest and studied it. It was close to the one he was wearing now except it was completely black save for the emblem of the Chudley Canons on the back. It added a spurge of color and was large so that it was there for the whole world to read. Ron couldn't resist his urge to try it on.
Harry was twiddling with his wand when Ron came out dawned in the Chudley Canons wedding robes.
"Oh my god," Harry gasped, "You're trying on robes even though we've chosen one? You've become a woman!"
"Shut up," Ron said, automatically, staring at himself in the mirror, "What do you think?"
"What do I think?" Harry said, blankly, "What I'm thinking is what was wrong with the last robe?"
"Nothing," Ron answered, "It just I saw this one and...will you check out the back on these robes!"
He turned so Harry could read the fiery canon ball emblem.
"Chudley Canons," Harry read, grinning like mad, "Well I have to say this is another fine set of robes."
"I know!" Ron exclaimed, unneccessarily, "But which do I chose?"
"Take this on off first then we'll decide," Harry supplied, scratching his nose.
Ron headed back and came out with both robes in hand. He placed them both in front of him and glanced at them to make the big decision. To admitt it Ron loved the Chudley Canons robe much more but he knew Hermione would love the other one. He knew Quidditch wasn't her favorite thing. She could think of a hundred other ways to spend her time. He didn't think Hermione'd be pleased to see he'd encorporated Quidditch into the most important day of her life. Then again...this robe had appealed to Ron in ways the other bland one could not.
"Ok, Ron, come on," Harry spoke up, breaking his train of thought, "Choose a robe. I mean, what's keeping you?"
Ron breathed out deeply, "I want this robe."
He motioned towards the one with the Chudley Canons emblem on the back. Harry picked it up.
"Then buy it," Harry decided, "It is wicked."
"But then again I'm not sure Hermione would like it," Ron grumbled to himself more than Harry, "So this one would be the safe bet."
Harry looked at him for a minute, "I cannot believe you're actually worried about what Hermione'll think."
Ron blinked, "Why?"
"If you like this Chudley Canons robe so much then she'll love it too," Harry said, rolling his eyes, "She likes you for being yourself. God knows she's seen all sides of you. After all those were a long seven years at Hogwarts. Now if you're beginning to illusion that she doesn't like you for you then why're you marrying her?"
Ron quieted and stared the robes.
"You know she loves you as you are. You know she thinks you're worth her time," Harry went on, "Or else there wouldn't be a wedding going on here, right?"
Ron blanked. Was he right? Or what was Ron falling into? A wedding that could only end in divorce? NO. He needed to snap out of his free fringed daze.
"Right?" Harry repeated, eyebrows raised high.
"Right," Ron nodded, breathing slowly, "Chudley Canons robes it is."
Was he right?
Author's Note: Did I scare you guys with that last chapter? Don't worry about it too much yet. Gosh I'm so sick, it's not even funny. You know I just watched Finding Neverland and I cried my eyes out at the end. (((sighs))) I'm a real cry baby. I've cried from books, fanfictions and even the Iron Giant movie made me cry. LOL.
xoxo
winkywink