Lady's MAN

The big day had arrived for Bill, who was very nervous banging into everybody as he stumbled from breakfast to his room where he shut himself. The others too were having a tight day. Mrs. Weasley was sobbing hard as Percy declined her invitation to come. Mr. Weasley, Charlie and Lupin were having trouble getting the tents ready in the back yard. Fred and George were arguing for what to wear, taking out a pair of emerald green jackets and a pair of shiny black cloaks. The others however had an entirely different issue to deal with. Ron was taking an extremely long time in the bathroom with Ginny, Harry and Hermione banging his door, with Ginny doing most of the yelling.

"Ron get the hell out of there you prat!" Ginny bellowed highly irritated.

"Black will look dreary, Fred," George's voice came from the bed room door left ajar.

"But green will look far too festive which we don't want to look for Phlegm," Fred tried to reason out but George gave a clear no. The entire Wealsey stock was at the end of its nerves bursting out and Harry and Hermione knew better to come in anyone's way.

Ron did come out much to everyone's pleasure. Mr. Weasley did recover from Percy problem by Tonks who made her a cup of tea and soothed her down. Two magnanimous tents were set up in the orchard and were filling up with guests.

"Ginny you look beautiful," Hermione squealed excitedly as her friend stood before her draped in a pale gold dress which complemented her sparkly skin and long hair gracefully. Ginny twirled in front of the mirror and blushed.

"Harry's surely going to flip over," Hermione almost regretting saying this as Ginny's face fell, her smile fading. "I'm so sorry, Gin."

"It's alright Hermione," Ginny tried to smile at her but failed miserably. Ginny and Harry did become a little awkward when in each other's company. Hermione and Ron did try to talk things out for Harry but in vain.

"I better go and help mom," Ginny said gloomily and walked out of the door. Hermione sighed sat by the window pane where she could clearly see the wedding tents with the Weasley's and Harry lolling around. He looked happy. Any stranger looking down at him would not have the slightest hint that he was suffering every moment. If only he hadn't been noble enough to let go the best thing that happened to him. Two figures joined them and she watched Ginny and Mrs. Weasley walk across the ground Harry stopped laughing with Charlie and his eyes darted around at Ginny.

Out on the far corner she found Lupin and Tonks standing far too close to each other. Their sight brought last night's meeting rushing back to her and she scowled. She couldn't see Ron any where, presuming he was still getting ready though he was the first one to go in the bathroom; Hermione stood up and rummaged through her trunk, taking out pale pink dress robes. As she walked past the window, she saw Lupin whisper something in Tonk's ears, making her erupt in giggles which was a sight Hermione never dreamed she would see. Everybody seemed paired up with the right people. People whom they loved. People they cherished and promised to die for them. Except for her.

"I hate bow ties," Ron said angrily to himself as he struggled with the tie in his hands in front of the mirror which was giving him awfully snide remarks. "I hate weddings."

Yes he was having a bad day. His hair weren't settling down, the bow tie didn't seem to set in and he was getting late. His mind settling on Ginny to help him, he started for her room and opened the door.

"Ginny I……Ah!"

"Ron!" Standing before him, was a bare backed Hermione who turned around hastily giving him the most breathtaking sight in his entire life. His eyes traveled from her hair made up in a bun with loose strands caressing her skin to her angry picturesque face to her long perfect neck to her bare shoulders to her small cleavage and finally resting on her slim curvy body wrapped around by pale pink robe.

"Ron, you're supposed to knock," Hermione struggled keeping her back wrapped as she fought with the zipper.

"I'm sorry I thought Ginny was in here," Ron brought himself from the dreamy state to his normal irritated one which was difficult for him standing before her.

"She is not here," Hermione said rolling her eyes.

"I wanted her to help with this," he plunged his bow tie forward and a giggle escaped Hermione's lips but she covered it up as she was angry at him.

"Why don't you turn around and let me finish and then I could help you?" Ron nodded and turned around, whistling.

"Hurry up, I don't want to get there when Bill and Fleur are of to their honeymoon," Ron said exasperatedly when Hermione let out another cry of struggle as she rummaged with her zipper.

"It…just won't…budge," Hermione said through gritted teeth.

"I can help you."

"No thank you."

"What, you don't trust me?" Ron said outrageously.

"I do but not more than Mclaggen," Hermione replied icily.

"Hey, Mclaggen is just not my league," Ron said angrily to the wall he was facing. Hermione let out a snort of disbelieve.

"I'm known as the Lady's man," Ron regretting saying this as Hermione burst out laughing hard. "Lavender said so."

"So is this the new title you want to adopt after 'Won-Won'" Hermione kept laughing which further infuriated Ron who was shaking with anger. He turned around accepting the helpless Hermione clutching her sides to keep her steady after the gleeful attack. Ron started towards her, who realized Ron had turned around grabbed her back close.

"Ron turn around I'm not done yet," Hermione protested but it rebounded on Ron whose fury was a shielding charm itself. He kept on walking towards her who reversed her tracks, looking terrified. "Ok Ron, enough is enough." She said in a shaky breath as she had reached the wall and Ron kept coming towards her. Now he was so close to her that he could count her eyelashes and Hermione could count the freckles in his neck. Ron, his piercing his, grabbed her by the waist and brought her even closer. If this was someone else, Hermione would have surely slapped him but this was feeling oddly comfortable to Hermione though she was still tugging up the zip. Then she felt Ron's hands travel up to her back and his fingers fumbled with the zipper and with a force he tugged it loose an zipped it up again not breaking the contact with Hermione's eyes. Hermione felt her eyes flutter in amazement as her back was zipped up and covered completely.

Ron couldn't let go of her. He had completely forgotten that he was angry at her. Rather he silently pondered on how any one could remain furious at this beauty for so long. He remained his eyes lingering on her spotless skin, wondering on how it would be like to touch it. He knew Hermione had magic over him because the bold step he just took now, taking her in his arms was not him. Even with Lavender he wasn't brave enough to hold her hand without asking her permission. Hermione's warm breath made him dizzy and a desire to kiss her madly took over him so much that he leaned in, closer. But before any contact could be made, his mom's voice jarred in, relieving the moment of its warmth.

He let go of her, and stood back staring anywhere but her.

"I'll get mom to do…my…uh…bow tie," Ron said to the carpet as he fumbled to the door leaving behind a bewildered Hermione, who suddenly felt chilly after his warm embrace.

What ever had happened left her dazzled completely and she just couldn't digest the fact that Ron had held her so close and was about to… No she was too carried away to think such an unbelievable thing. Ron could never kiss her…never even think about it or would he?

Smiling, she glided after Ron out the door, thinking Lavender was right. He is a Lady's man.