Shadow
A/N: Thanks to Amanda, stargoddess127, FairyWings101, priestess-of-suzaku, and satinzevi for reviewing! You all get to read "The Plan" now. Lol, I hope you enjoy it ;)
Please read and review because the reviews that you give really make me happy and give me the inspiration that I need to write the next update.
-Chapter 8- The Wedding
Hermione smiled widely as she looked herself over in the mirror at how she looked. Her mother, Mrs. Weasley, Alex and Ginny all stood in the tiny room together and all gave her compliments on how beautiful she looked. None of them noticed the sadness that hid in her eyes under all the fake cheerfulness that radiated from her though. Not even Hermione really noticed it. She did, but she was trying her hardest to push that feeling out of her mind.
"Wow Hermione, you look gorgeous," Ron said after he knocked on the door and stuck his head in.
"Thanks Ron," Hermione said, pulling Ron into the room more and giving him a huge hug. "Is Harry here?"
Ron shook his head glumly, looking down at the ground. "I tried to get him to come, but he and Alana are holed up in that flat of theirs, just watching DPDs or something like that."
"DVDs Ron, they were probably watching DVDs. Oh well, he did tell me that he wasn't going to show," Hermione replied, smoothing her dress down some more.
"And you're OK with that?" asked Ginny.
"Yeah, I do have my two favourite girls as my bride's maids and my best friend as my Man of Honour here to witness me marrying the man I love. Plus my two families are here to give me support. So really, when I'm up there with Wes, I won't even notice that Harry isn't even there," Hermione said, not daring her tears to betray how she was really feeling because she knew Harry was not going to show.
(Harry)
Harry groaned as he tried in vain to make his hair lay flat. He had tried everything from just plain water and comb to gel to even hairspray. None of it had worked, causing him to wash the junk out of his hair quite a few times. Alana smirked as she watched Harry from the doorway to the bathroom.
"Why are you trying to fix your hair? They've all seen you with this hair-do since you were a little boy," Alana pointed out as she grabbed the comb that Harry was attacking his head with. "I don't think they'd recognize you if you were able to tame that hair of yours."
"You're probably right," laughed Harry. "But I was just trying to get it to look nice so it would impress Hermione."
"If she loves you like I think she does, she won't care how your hair looks."
"That reminds me, why did you forget to mention what Hermione had said to you? Why did you tell Alex, causing her to tell Ron so he could tell me?"
"I told you, it just totally slipped my mind when ever we would talk. It just popped into my head when I was talking to Alex because we had nothing to talk about, I mean, I don't exactly get along with your friends. Hermione just puts up with me because I can manage the store pretty well."
"I believe you," Harry said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"I know you do," Alana said playfully. "Now come, we've got a wedding to intervene in."
(Hermione)
Mrs. Granger stuck her head out in the area where Hermione and Wes were to be wed to see if everyone had arrived yet. Everybody that was supposed to be there was already seated and waiting for the ceremony to start.
"Has Harry decided to show up yet?" asked Hermione, coming up behind her mother.
Mrs. Granger turned around startled. "I'm sorry dear, but no. I don't know why you're expecting him; he did tell you that he wasn't going to come."
"I know that Mother. It's just, I thought he might change his mind because he knows how special this day is to me, and I want him to be here with me, supporting me," Hermione sighed, picking up the hem of her skirt and walking back to where she had been getting ready before.
(Harry)
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" whispered Harry as he and Alana knelt behind a chair in the groom's room.
"Yes, because, if there's no groom, there'll be no wedding. And Hermione will think that Wes wanted to leave her because he didn't have the guts for commitment," Alana whispered back.
"I don't feel right about this though," Harry said, starting to get up just as the door started to open.
"Shh, it's too late now for second thoughts," Alana hissed as she pulled Harry back down.
Harry glared at her.
Wes was just looking himself over in the mirror, making sure his tie was straight, when Alana started to count to three with her fingers. But once she got to three, Harry shook his head and sat against the wall, not getting ready to move anytime soon. Alana was starting to freak out silently at Harry, and luckily she did not have to wait long to verbally freak out on him because Wes quickly left the room after he was sure that he looked alright.
"Why didn't you do as we planned!" exclaimed Alana, jumping up.
"I didn't feel right about it. Besides, if we didn't let him go until tomorrow and Wes told Hermione what had happened, the first one she'd blame would be me!" Harry replied calmly, standing up.
"So now what are you going to do?" asked Alana as she and Harry and slipped out of the room unnoticed.
"I'm going to do this the old fashion way," Harry said, leading Alana to behind some plants so when the bride's maids, the groom's men, and of course Hermione came to go through the doors, they would not see them.
(Hermione)
Hermione plastered on a smile as she looped her arm around her father's. He patted her arm gently as he smiled down gently.
"I can't believe my baby is getting married today," Mr. Granger said as he looked at his daughter.
Hermione just smiled wider in response as they stepped closer to the door. They were standing behind Ron and Ginny, who were behind Alex and Josh, Wes' best man. Two of Wes' cousins were waiting for their cue to go out with either her flower basket, or his pillow with the rings on it, so they could start the actual wedding.
Ron looked over his shoulder briefly, and when he noticed that Hermione was holding in her breath, winked at her, trying to reassure her, even if he believed that she belonged with Harry, not Wes. She did not seem to see him though, because she gave no recognition. Shrugging it off, Ron turned forward again and noticed that Alex and Josh were halfway down the aisle, signalling that he and Ginny should start to move.
Releasing her breath, Hermione looked at her father one more time before they made their way down the aisle once the music started with the 'Here Comes the Bride' song. Looking through the standing crowd, Hermione tried to spot Harry, but she had no luck. She guessed that he really meant what he said about not going to her wedding, which caused her to push back her tears even more.
As soon as they reached the alter Wes started to grin like a madman. Mr. Granger flipped back Hermione's veil and kissed her cheek. Mrs. Granger walked over to her daughter and husband and quickly kissed Hermione's cheek as well.
"Who here gives this woman away?" asked the priest.
"We do," Mr. and Mrs. Granger said together before smiling once more at the daughter and sitting down.
Hermione smiled at Wes and took her place next to him. He grabbed her hand and looked down at his bride-to-be and grinned.
The doors to the ceremony were closed, causing Alana to jump out from behind the plant.
"Now what are we going to do?" she asked, looking at Harry.
"We are going to listen until the priest asks for the objections," he replied, taking out his wand and pointing it at the door. He cast a simple spell on it, causing it so that they could hear the whole ceremony. Harry sat down on the floor, his back against the wall, and patted the space next to him.
Alana sat down next to Harry. "How come you always remember your wand when I wouldn't?"
"It's because I know you wouldn't remember about it that I remember mine."
Alana pushed him gently on the shoulder. "Hey!"
Harry just grinned back, stopping himself from falling over.
Up on the alter, Hermione was gazing into Wes' eyes, trying to stop the tears from falling whenever she would glance into the crowd to see if Harry had slipped in sometime. She did not want to admit to herself that she wanted it to be Harry's eyes that she was staring into, causing her to tell herself over and over again that she was in love Wes, not Harry. She was so busy talking to herself in her head, that she was not listening to the priest anymore.
Even though Hermione was not listening to the priest, Harry was and he did hear when the priest asked for any objectors. He immediately jumped up from the ground and pushed the doors open.
"I object to this marriage," Harry said, walking down the aisle.
The priest closed his book and walked off the altar.
"Potter!" hissed Wes.
Upon hearing 'Potter', Hermione looked away from Wes' face and looked down the aisle, her hands dropping from Wes'. "Harry! What are you doing?"
"I'm objecting to this marriage Hermione, you don't belong with him, you belong with me," Harry replied, at the altar now and had grabbed Hermione's hands.
"Harry," she said, tears freely streaming from her eyes as she shook her head.
"Come on Hermione, you know we belong together. Everyone can see it! Even Wes over there knows it, that's why he dislikes me so."
"Harry…" she repeated, closing her eyes.
"Hermione, do you want to go with that lowly police officer who didn't even have the courage to come to your – our – wedding?" asked Wes desperately, reaching out for Hermione, causing her to look at him.
"'Mione, please don't marry that man. I mean, he doesn't know anything about you! He doesn't know you like I do," said Harry, trying to get Hermione to look back at him.
Hermione looked back and forth between her fiancée and her best friend, clearly confused at what she should do. Both looked at her expectantly. Biting her lip, Hermione looked past them to her parents, who were just sitting there, just like the rest of the people in attendance. They looked confused and her mother would not look directly at her, meaning Hermione was on her own. She then proceeded to look over her shoulder at Ron, Ginny, and Alex. All three of them just shrugged, though Ron silently mouthed 'Harry'.
"Ignore him Hermione, I'm perfect for you, you told me that yourself. Don't forget the love that you hold for me in your heart," Wes said. "And don't forget that I love you and left my ex for you."
A woman gasped in the crowd, and Hermione guessed it had been Wes' mother. We looked at her with pleading eyes, which made Hermione turn away and look at Harry.
"All I can say Hermione Granger, is that I love you dearly," he said, green orbs burning into chocolate brown ones.
"I can't…" she started, her voice failing her. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I can't be with either of you right now. I need to think. I'm sorry Wes. I'm sorry for all the trouble caused here today." Hermione hoisted up the hem of her dress and walked down the steps. Lifting her dress a bit higher, Hermione started to run out of the church.
Alex and Ginny looked at each other before ditching their bouquets of flowers and lifting up their dresses as well. They knew Hermione would need them. Soon, the other two beauties left the church in search of the bride.
Murmurs started and most got up and off their chairs. The groom's side was slowly starting to leave, while the bride's were all trying to squeeze through the doors.
Wes turned to Harry. "You, you're the one responsible for the love of my life leaving!"
"No, she did that on her own. I just simply delayed your wedding," Harry calmly said as Wes started to advance on Harry.
"Wes, lay off of him," Ron said, stepping up beside Harry.
"Why should I? He made her leave!" exclaimed Wes, a deep growl escaping his throat.
"I did not, and you know it. She's confused, and I can see why. I mean, what would you do if that ex-girlfriend that you left for Hermione just showed up, claiming to love you? I bet you'd want time to think about it," Harry stated. Wes' eyes narrowed as he grabbed Harry by the collar. "I'm not going to fight you Wes."
"Oh, and why not? Do you think you'll loose?"
Harry just shook his head and removed Wes' hand. "I don't have time for this. See you later Wes." Turning on his heel, Harry left the church, Ron smirking and following him.
(Hermione)
"Hermione, honey, can you unlock the doors?" asked Alex, knocking on the passenger door to the car that Hermione was occuping, Ginny standing right behind her.
The clicking of the doors being unlocked was their reply.
Alex opened the door and poked her head in. Hermione was sitting on the driver's seat, her head resting against the steering wheel. The two females entered the car cautiously, Ginny in the front and Alex sliding into the back.
"Hey 'Mione, what's wrong?" asked Ginny, hugging Hermione.
Hermione sniffed. "I don't really know. I mean, I should be happy that Harry decided to actually show up. But you know I'm really not. Because I think I had a feeling that he would do what he did."
Alex snorted. "You had no idea that he was going to do that. You were practically crying because he wasn't showing up."
"Ugh, fine! I wanted him to do that!"
"Well if you wanted him to do that, why didn't you walk out of here with him?" asked Ginny, looking at Hermione accusingly.
"Because," Hermione paused. "I don't know! I thought running out of there would be a good idea. I couldn't handle everyone staring at me like I had to choose right then. I mean, I couldn't choose right then. And I know it was less than five minutes ago, but still! Ugh! What am I going to do?" She slammed her head back down onto the steering wheel.
"We all know how stressed you are and it's OK that you freaked up there. It's no big deal, at least now you can run off, hide and think about whom you want more."
The three women laughed, though it was slightly forced for all.
"So who are you going to choose?" asked Alex when they stopped.
"You know Alex, I don't know. If one of them walked in here right now, I wouldn't know what I'd do," Hermione replied.
"Can I ask you a question?" asked Ginny when nobody talked after that.
"Why not, that's all you've two been doing since you came in here."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Do you love Wes?"
"Duh, of course I love him! If I didn't, I wouldn't have accepted his proposal."
"OK. Now, do you love Harry?"
Hermione looked at Ginny and bit her lip. She looked confused on how she should answer.
(Harry)
"Harry, there you are!" called Alana, running over to Harry and Ron as they were just exiting the church. She had been leaning against a rail waiting for them. "I saw Hermione run out of there as fast as that dress allowed her, what happened?"
"She ran because she didn't know who she wanted," Ron said when it was plain that Harry was not going to because he was looking into the parking lot.
"Do you know where she went?" he asked absently.
"Um, yeah, she went running over to that blue car over there," Alana replied, pointing to the car that Alex, Ginny, and Hermione were sitting in.
"OK, thanks," Harry said, walking off to the car.
"Do you think she'll pick him?" asked Alana, looking at Ron.
"If you had asked me that eight months ago when he was still gone, the answer would have been 'No, absolutely not', but now, I don't know what she's going to do," Ron replied, looking at his friend as he knocked on the car's window.
Ginny looked up at Harry and smiled. She turned back around and Harry figured she was talking to Alex. Soon, the two each opened the doors and got out. They both gave Harry a reassuring smile before walking over to Ron and Alana. Gulping, Harry slid into the seat Ginny had currently been sitting in before closing the door.
"Hey," he said quietly.
"Hi," she responded, her voice just as quiet as his because she did not want to disturb the stillness in the car.
Neither talked for several moments, and finally Harry pulled a box – a ring box – out of his pocket and put it on the dashboard, not talking still, which made Hermione stare at him.
"You know that day when I told you that I was going to propose to you?" he asked, finally speaking.
Hermione vaguely nodded her head.
"Well, that's the ring. I could never bring myself to take it back. And don't worry, it's not the one I gave Alana," he added, grinning. He had carried that exact ring with him the day that he proposed to Alana, but he actually had two rings that were similar, but were not the same.
Hermione rolled her eyes and pointed to the box. "May I?"
Harry nodded and passed her the box.
Opening the velvet box, Hermione gasped as she looked down at the ring. The band was a bunch of intertwining hearts and in the middle, on top; there was a blue sapphire in the shape of yet another heart. She slipped the ring on her left index finger to see that it fit perfectly.
"Harry, this ring is lovely," she said, taking it off and putting it back in the box.
"Well what do you say Hermione, do you want to wear that on a daily basis?" asked Harry. "I mean, I don't want us to rush into anything fast, we'd have to go through the dating thing again and everything. That is, if you'll take me back and don't choose Wes. So who is going to be?"
Hermione looked at Harry, not sure what she could tell the man that was so helplessly in love with her.
A/N: Ooh. Not nice of me, I know, I know! But what's not nicer, is that I won't be able to update until sometime in August after I get back from holidaying. I'll try really hard to get the next chapter (which might be the last and if it isn't, then it will be the second last) up before July 1st, but I don't know if that will happen. So yeah, please review! They do mean a lot to me!