A/N: Thanks for the outpouring of support I got from you guys. Those of you who write know just how much the reviews mean. Sometimes, that's all that keeps me going. Thanks so much, and please enjoy this chapter.
"Harry, it's so nice to meet you! George has told me so much about you. At least, he's told me as much as a person can in a day's time."
Harry was being introduced to Brooke by a glowing George. Harry couldn't recall ever seeing him acting quite this way. Harry stood in the tent, a dance floor covering most of the floor space, but many tables were scattered around the outskirts. Though he was truly happy to meet Brooke, Harry's eyes kept straying towards the table where Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat. The music was just beginning to play, and suddenly Harry wanted nothing more than to dance with Ginny, but he politely replied,
"It's nice to meet you, too. How're you adjusting to all this?"
"Well, it's a bit overwhelming, but I have an open mind. Plus, I've known George and Fred for that matter, for some time. Nothing either of them said would shock me. It's part of the burden of falling in love with someone so unpredictable." Brooke laughed and George pretended to look insulted.
"Brooke, you're not insinuating that I'm so strange that you weren't shocked, even a little bit, to find out that magic is real. That would make me really strange."
"Yes, well, if the shoe fits, darling," Brooke said with a cheeky smile to Harry, "Now, if you'll both excuse me, I think I'll go wrench some embarrassing stories out of your mother, George. Let's see what she can come up with."
She grinned mischievously at them and walked towards Mrs. Weasley, who was kissing Fleur on the cheek and sending her off to dance with Bill. Harry looked at George who looked simultaneously proud and a bit concerned.
"That's my girl…Mum hasn't got anything. Really, I was an angel as a child. There are no embarrassing stories to tell." But he looked worried all the same, "Just to be on the safe side, I should go over there. Listen, Harry, have some fun tonight, okay? And try to keep Ron and Hermione from fighting again. If there's any excitement tonight, I'd like to think Fred and I would cause it, you know."
Harry nodded, understanding George's concern. No one seemed to know anymore when the next row would erupt with those two. As Harry walked towards the table, though, he saw Hermione and Ron speaking happily with Ginny. All signs of anger were gone. Harry would have felt relief, but he knew his best friends very well, and he also knew that you didn't always detect the clicking sound before the bomb was discovered. He sat down, and said,
"When do we eat?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and Ginny laughed. Ron looked glad that Harry had brought it up,
"That's what I was just saying. I'm starving."
"Is that all you two think about? Quidditch and food, that's what everything boils down to, isn't it?" Hermione asked in an exasperated tone.
"There're a couple of other things on the list," Ron replied, "Basic needs that we don't talk about."
Harry and Ginny laughed. Hermione blushed.
"Putting those needs aside," Ginny said in between laughs, "I'm a bit hungry myself."
Just then, Mrs. Weasley was seen levitating above the room. Harry jumped up.
"What's happening? Is she ok?"
Ron laughed,
"Calm down, Harry, not everything that happens that you don't recognize as normal has to do with Dark Magic. She's just trying to get everyone's attention so she can talk."
"It's the equivalent of standing on a chair," Hermione added with a smile.
"Oh," Harry felt rather stupid, having turned something ordinary into a cause for panic.
He was alleviated from further conversation when Mrs. Weasley began to speak,
"Thank you all for being here," she said to a significantly quieter room, "The bride and groom, among others, have shared their first dance, and so now comes the feast. Help yourselves, and have good time!" She waved her wand, and food appeared on the tables. Harry saw the corn that he and Ron had so painstakingly shucked, and felt a rather foolish sense of pride.
Half an hour later, the food had disappeared and everyone was milling about, dancing and chatting. It was very nice to be able to feel such peace. Harry hadn't felt this good since before Dumbledore's death. Ron looked as though he was trying to summon up the courage to ask Hermione to dance. He was saved the trouble when Hermione turned to him, smiling brightly and said,
"Let's dance! Oh, Ron, don't look like that, it's a slow song, you don't really have to dance!"
Ron seemed to lose the ability to speak and simply nodded. Hermione seized his hand and they made their way to the dance floor. Harry looked at Ginny. He was going to ask her to dance as well. He felt very tranquil, but maybe that was the many butterbeers talking, and he smiled at Ginny. She smiled happily back, and Harry thought to himself that she looked so genuinely happy. Harry thought that perhaps they could talk for a bit before going on to the dance floor. It seemed as good a time as any to just talk; restore a normal relationship like they used to have.
Harry looked up and saw a sheet of silvery blond hair coming towards him. The hair belonged to Gabrielle, and he revised his thoughts. It was a very bad time to sit and talk. He needed to be unavailable to dance with Gabrielle, and he needed to do it fast.
"Ginny, fancy having that dance know?" he said very quickly, looking to where Gabrielle was coming closer and closer to him. Was she on some sort of propeller? How was she moving so fast? And why wasn't Ginny answering quicker. Ginny was following Harry's gaze, and when it rested on Gabrielle, she laughed whole-heartedly.
"You know, I feel as though I should ask for something in return from saving you from having to dance with Gabrielle."
Harry's jaw dropped,
"Ginny…you wouldn't!"
Ginny was still laughing,
"I grew up with Fred and George, so you'd think I would. But I kind of like you the way you are; sane, I mean, so yeah, let's dance."
She put her small hand in Harry's and they walked onto the floor just as Gabrielle reached the table. Gabrielle's eyes followed Harry and Ginny to the dance floor, and she scowled.
"Ooh, not a good look for her," Ginny commented as Harry placed one hand on her waist and held the other in hers, "Do you notice that when she gets mad, she looks as scary as she is beautiful when she's happy?"
"To be honest, I haven't paid that much attention to her."
"How could you not, Harry? I'm a girl, and I've noticed!" Ginny was smiling.
Harry thought it had been far too long since he had seen her laugh and smile so much, and he felt a pang in his heart. He had caused much of her unhappiness.
"I was busy looking at something I couldn't have," he said truthfully, before he could stop himself.
He very suddenly lost all desire to talk at all, and pulled Ginny close to him, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. She twined her arms around his neck and looked him in the eye. It was a knowing look that said all too well she had understood what Harry had let slip. Harry held her and looked over her shoulder around the room, as much to give himself a moment to think as to observe.
Ron and Hermione were dancing not far from them. Ron was holding Hermione much as Harry was holding Ginny. Hermione's head was resting on Ron's chest as they swayed to the music. Harry could tell by the look on Ron's face that he had yet to reveal his feeling to her. The expression was one of fear and very deep thought. Harry wondered if Ron would ever get up the nerve to tell Hermione how he felt; he rather thought Hermione was going to have to admit it first. Just then, Krum walked up behind Hermione. He tapped Ron the shoulder, and Hermione's head snapped up, her eyes very open and alert now. Though Ron's arm tightened possessively around Hermione's waist, he seemed to speaking civilly to Krum. Harry realized Ron was apologizing when he and Krum shook hands. Harry noticed that Ron kept one arm around Hermione when he shook Krum's hand with his one free arm.
"He's not letting go of her." Harry said aloud. Ginny looked up at him, confused. Harry nodded towards the scene to his left, and Ginny sighed.
"At least he's got actions to speak for him, right? Because if anyone was ever relying on Ron to use words to get what he wants or to get his point across, they'd be sorely disappointed."
Harry chuckled and Ginny continued,
"I actually think Hermione's going to have to be the one to admit she has feelings for him. I don't think he'd do it without prompting, you know?"
Harry looked down at her, filled with this feeling that he couldn't describe. She was perfect.
"Harry, what? You think I'm wrong?" Ginny wore a confused expression.
"Ginny, I think you're exactly right. Have I told you yet that you look incredible?"
"No, actually, I don't believe you have," Ginny replied with a smile, "And thank you."
Harry pulled her close again, trying to force his emotions back into cleverly constructed cage he had built for himself.
Ginny looked at him up at him,
"Harry, are you alright? What's wrong?"
The unfiltered, pure concern in Ginny's amber eyes forced Harry's emotions right out of the cage and, before he could stop himself, before any sort of restraint could take hold, he said,
"Ginny, I'm in love with you."
Her eyes widened and Harry clapped a hand to his forehead.
"I shouldn't have told you that."
"Harry…did you mean that? Do you want to take it back?" Ginny had pulled out of Harry's arms and was watching him with an unreadable expression.
"Dammit, no! I don't want to take it back. I should take it back. I know I love you, Ginny, but it doesn't change things. I still can't be with you. This puts you in more danger."
Ginny nodded slowly,
"Talking you out of this would be like talking to a brick wall. I know that because I know you. I think it's cruel of you to tell me this, though, Harry and then walk away. In fact, no, I'm walking away," Ginny said coolly.
"Ginny, wait-"
Ginny held up a hand, and for the first time, Harry saw tears in her eyes. She had never cried over their relationship before; she had been so strong. She hated herself for the tears she felt forming behind her eyes, Harry could see it. She spoke deliberately so that the quiver in her voice couldn't be heard,
"No, Harry, no. You had to know that I was in love with you too, and to have you confirm your feelings are the same and then tell me we can't be together is just-" she stopped, took a breath, and continued calmly,
"Just leave me alone for now, Harry; I can't be around you right now. But don't worry, I'll be fine and we'll go back to being 'just friends'."
Harry watched the redhead walk away, and Harry knew he had made a huge mistake.
"I should run after her, tell her I'm wrong…No! I can't. I'm done playing with her mind. I can't do that. If Voldermort knew how much I cared about her, he'd kill her."
Harry waved off Hermione's and Ron's questioning looks. He didn't want their relationship to be ruined because of Harry's stupidity. And Harry had a feeling that Ron and Hermione's whole relationship came down to tonight. Despite his objections, however, both of his friends followed him to the table. Harry had time to see Ginny rush to talk with Fred and Angelina, clearly putting on a brave face. Mrs. Weasley was bidding William Smythe good-bye. Harry only had time to think that it was very early for him to be leaving- they'd only been at the reception for an hour or so-when Ron and Hermione descended on him. Questions blazed in Hermione's eyes and she didn't waste time,
"Harry, what happened? Why did you and Ginny stop dancing? It looked serious."
Ron adopted a look of indifference; Harry knew he really wanted to stay out of the whole Harry/Ginny saga.
"Hermione, she wanted to talk with Fred and Angelina, that's all. So she excused herself and she went over to them, see just there?"
Harry didn't know why he lied; Ginny was sure to tell Hermione what happened. All he knew was that he couldn't tell Hermione just yet. He was too ashamed.
"That doesn't seem like Ginny. Are you sure she's not upset about anything?"
"Hermione, does she look upset?"
All three of them looked towards Ginny who was laughing with Fred and Angelina. Harry felt a pang in his heart; she was hurting, and Harry could tell, even past her smiling façade, Harry saw the pain in her eyes, even across the room.
Apparently Hermione saw it too,
"No, Harry, she doesn't look upset," she said softly, "but she is," she added almost inaudibly.
Harry's overzealous proclamation of love put a damper on the night. Ron and Hermione did not dance with each other again, although Ron did dance with one of Fleur's cousins (Hermione glared the entire time from where she was dancing with Charlie). It turned out that the date Charlie was supposed to be with, one of Fleur's other cousins, was exceedingly dull. Harry declined offers of dances from everyone who asked until Mrs. Weasley approached him.
"Well, dear, it seems as though everyone else is dancing. Why don't you come dance with me, Harry?" she smiled kindly and held out a motherly hand. Harry took it and said,
"Sure, Mrs. Weasley."
Harry dance a waltz with Mrs.Weasley and she said,
"Harry, dear, you look rather upset. Are you alright?" She looked worried. Harry wondered if another "talk" was coming. He didn't think he could take it. Mrs. Weasley seemed to read his mind and did not push the matter. When the dance ended, Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a hug and a kiss on the cheek,
"Thanks for indulging an old woman, Harry."
Harry smiled weakly,
"Mrs. Weasley, you'll never be old, not to me."
Mrs. Weasley laughed and replied,
"Thank you Harry, a woman can never be told too often how young she looks."
The rest of the evening passed while Harry sat at his table in near solitude. He didn't have the heart or will to walk all the way across the room, and interrogate Lupin, who was dancing with Tonks. They looked very happy and Harry thought to himself that at least someone was happily in love. He could ask Lupin about Snape later.
Occasionally, between their separate dances, Hermione and Ron would plop down with him, not saying anything, but keeping him company. Finally, guests began to disappear and Harry, Ron, and Hermione found themselves sitting at the table at the same time. Harry took this as the cue to say,
"You reckon we can turn in for the night? I just want to get away from all these people."
"Yeah, I reckon we can. Mum only has to wave her wand to clean this up, so she won't mind."
Ginny stayed behind as the three left the tent. She appeared to be saying farewell to bill and Fleur; they left for their honeymoon in the morning. Hermione and Ron had already said good-bye, and Harry was feeling too stubborn to walk over and to wish them a good trip while Ginny was there. So he settled for waving. Hermione motioned to Ginny to come with them, and Ginny used that special girl sign language making a sign to Hermione.
"What?" Ron said, looking confused.
"She said to go on without her. She'll catch us up."
"You got all that from this," Ron made the hand gesture that Ginny had, "Bloody genius."
The three reached the tents, but Harry was not tired. Apparently neither was Ron or Hermione. Harry remembered that they could not enter Hermione's tent and she couldn't enter theirs, so they seemed to be at a stalemate.
"Here," Hermione said, waving her wand. A small wooden table appeared right outside the tents, and four chairs appeared as well.
They sat in the three chairs, leaving one empty for Ginny. Harry wondered what would happen when Ginny came back. Would she it with them? His question was answered as Ginny came up from the orchard and sat down in the chair as if nothing had happened between herself and Harry. Harry did not falter, but the forced levity of the conversation made it clear that there was something going on between Harry and Ginny that they hadn't shared with Ron or Hermione. They were telling stories and reliving the wedding when there was a loud Crack! from the distant blackness.
"So, how was the wedding?" a snide voice came from the darkness, "I think my invitation got lost along the way. In fact, I'm pretty angry about it. I think I'm angry enough to do some serious damage to Mudblood and company."
A boy of seventeen with a pale, pointed face and blond hair emerged from the darkness, and Ginny gasped,
"Malfoy!"
A/N: Again with the cliffies! I want to STRESS that I have EVERY intention of putting Ron and Hermione together. I'm a huge R/Hr shipper, and I won't let you down. Stop all attempts to curse and hex me over the internet, please! So, the admission I promised was in this chapter, but come on, people, how often does Harry do anything that makes you applaud him? If he wasn't so thick, his life would probably be easier, but he has deluded ideas of nobility. And I just believe that to put Ron and Hermione together is going to take something really huge. They're only there to frustrate us, right? But at least they've made steps in this chapter (don't hex me for not putting them together yet, please! I have a plan, really!) I promise that by the end of this fic, there will be happy fluff. I'm thinking that the next chapter will be the last, but knowing me, it won't be. I'm writing a sequel as well, but I think the 13th chapter is fitting for the last in The Wedding. Please review!
