Hi all!

Thank you for the great reviews, they really mean a lot to me. I am trying to get this story out as quickly as I can as I have already started working on the sequel, a story centered around Tonks and Lupin.

Thank you guys so much!

Failte

Ginny clutched her bouquet in her left hand while she fiddled with the clip that held her robe closed over her shoulders. The clip was real gold and engraved with her initials, a gift from Bill and Fleur for being in their wedding.

"Ginny, dear, stop fidgeting," Molly chided.

Letting out a slow breath, Ginny lowered her hand and wrapped it around the other, holding her bouquet chest high. She was second in line to walk down the aisle, behind Fleur's cousin, Adrienne, and behind her were Fleur's friend, Odette, her sister Gabrielle, and finally Fleur on her father's arm. They stood in line behind the closed kitchen door. When she was sure that everything was as it should be, Molly would go out and be escorted to her seat by one of the twins. Then, at the right musical cue, the door would open and the groomsman would each escort one of the bridesmaids down the aisle, Ron with Adrienne, Fred with Ginny, George with Odette, and Charlie with Gabrielle.

Ginny shifted her weight from one foot to the other, anxious, excited, and nervous. She watched as her mother slipped out the door, music and the quiet murmur of voices drifted into the kitchen before the door snapped shut. The four bridesmaids stood in stiff silence, every so often a quiet sniffle would escape from beneath Fleur's elaborately beaded veil.

A loud swell of music was suddenly heard and the kitchen door opened. Red faced and awkward, Ron offered his arm to Adrienne and the procession started the short walk across the yard to the long white runner that served as the aisle. Fred was surprisingly well behaved as he and Ginny followed. Her gaze swept over the gathered family members. To the left were a sea of mostly redheads and to the right were rows of beautiful blondes. In the second row on Bill's side she saw Tonks sitting beside Lupin, his hand clasped in hers. Beside them were Mad-Eye Moody, Kingsley Shaklebolt and his wife, Hagrid, and Professor McGonagall. In the front row, beside her parents and grandparents, Ginny saw Harry. He was watching her with such intensity she was sure she could feel the heat from his stare.

Bill gave the twins a warning glare before looking up the aisle, past Gabrielle and Charlie to the veiled beauty of his bride.

Ginny took her place and willed herself to not look at Harry. She caught Ron glancing back at Hermione who was standing beside Harry and bit back a smile.

Fleur and her father approached Bill who held his hand out to his bride. He gently lifted the veil and revealed her beautiful face.

In that moment, Ginny's entire opinion of Fleur changed. Any woman who could put that look of utter devotion and pure love on her brother's face couldn't be all bad. For the first time in her young life, she saw tears shinning in Bill's eyes and her heart melted a little.

Arthur's oldest brother, Ainsley, a senior researcher in the northern offices of the Ministry of Magic, specializing in cultural differences between wizards around the world, was going to perform the ceremony. He had become licensed to perform wizard marriages a few years earlier to supplement his income and because he was enough of a romantic to truly enjoy the act of bringing two souls together.

Ginny chewed on her lower lip as she watched her brother and his bride declare their love to each other and vow to stay together for all the rest of their lives. Without even thinking about it, the youngest Weasley found her eyes on Harry. He met her gaze with an equally piercing one. Her knees trembled slightly and she tried to form her mouth into a smile, but nerves kept it from happening. It took every ounce of self control and willpower for Ginny to look away, her heart thudding so hard, it echoed in her ears. She actually found herself subtly looking from side to side, afraid the other bridesmaids could hear it beating.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife!" Ainsley announced loudly. "You may kiss your bride."

Ginny watched tearfully as Bill leaned forward and gently kissed his new wife.

The assembled crowd broke out in applause. The twins stuck their fingers in their mouths and let loose with earsplitting whistles. Molly took Arthur's handkerchief and loudly blew her nose before wiping her eyes with a corner. Music swelled as the newlyweds turned to face their families and Ainsley declared, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. William Weasley!"

More whistles and catcalls were shouted out as the two hurried down the aisle. Celebratory wand sparks were showered over them as they sought refuge in the house. They were given some time to compose themselves and privately enjoy their new union before rejoining everyone for the reception.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen as well as family members were gathered for photographs. After nearly half an hour, Ginny's face ached from smiling so much and her shoes were pinching her feet terribly. She was thrilled to hear her mother clap her hands and announce that food would be served soon.

While the other bridesmaids surrounded Fleur in a flurry of tears and high pitched squealing, Ginny sneaked away to find her friends. She found Harry and Hermione talking to Mad-Eye Moody, sipping glasses of pumpkin juice.

"Oh, Gin, it was a lovely ceremony," Hermione gasped. "And you looked beautiful."

"Thanks," Ginny sighed, slipping her feet out of the offending shoes.

"Wotcher, Ginny, painful shoes?"

She turned to see Tonks and Lupin approaching, "Yeah, I don't know why we can't invent dress shoes that are comfortable."

"Here," Tonks flicked her wand and mumbled a few words. "Try them now."

Ginny slipped them back on, hesitantly, and then sighed with relief. It felt like stepping into a comfortable pair of slippers. "How did you do that?"

Tonks winked at her, "I'll show you later. It's a very important spell all witches should know."

"I would think you would want to teach the children more practical spells considering what's going on," Moody grumbled.

"And that, Alastor, is proof that men have no idea how women suffer for beauty," Tonks teased lightly.

Moody scowled, "Beauty means nothing when it comes to fighting…"

"Alastor," Lupin interrupted. "This is neither the time nor the place."

"Considering what is going on, everywhere is the time and place of constant vigilance."

"Yes, but let's not dampen the spirits on this joyous occasion. Tomorrow we can discuss it all you want."

The conversation was interrupted when a bell tinkled, signaling to everyone that the meal was about to be served. Lupin, Tonks, and Moody took their seat at a table with Kingley and his wife while Harry and Hermione found their seats with Andrew Weasley, his wife Hannah and their three children. Ron and Ginny took their places at the head table.

As soon as everyone was seated, Charlie stood and waited for silence.

"I want to thank you all for coming to the wedding of my very lucky brother, Bill, and his beautiful new wife, Fleur. I can honestly say, that in all my life, I don't think I've ever seen Bill so happy. When we think of what is going on in the world around us and how uncertain the future is, it's wonderful to see that love can still be found. I know Bill and Fleur will have several years of happiness together because they are meant to be together." He raised his glass, "Here's to Bill, Fleur, and their many, many wonderful years together!"

"Here, here," everyone chanted as they raised their glasses.

Fred and George both stood, glasses in hand.

Mrs. Weasley groaned quietly.

"On this glorious day," Fred began. "We would like to offer some words of wisdom to our dear brother and his bride…"

George continued, "…as they go together on this ride…"

"… we wish you a life full of luck…"

"…your flirting makes us want to upchuck…"

"…Bill, over the years we've played many games of Quidditch…"

"…and though you could never actually catch the golden snitch…"

"…we're surprised you could catch such a beautiful witch!"

In unison, they concluded with, "Now let's eat!"

Hermione leaned over to Harry and whispered, "Who's going to tell them that Quidditch and snitch don't actually rhyme?"

He smiled at her, "You could."

"And suffer their wrath? I don't think so."

Ginny looked over to see the two of them laughing. She wished she could join them rather than sitting between Adrienne and Odette who were speaking in rapid fire French. As though he could sense her watching him, Harry looked up at her and winked. Heat flooded her cheeks and she looked down at the plate that appeared in front of her.

Over the next hour, food was eaten and conversation plentiful. Fleur and Bill ate almost nothing, as they were both too excited to think about food and they moved from table to table to talk to everyone. Ginny excused herself as early as she could to join the table with Harry and Hermione, Ron right behind her. He took the seat between Hermione and their older (and some might say, better looking) cousin, Simon.

With a wave of their wands, Bill and Charlie moved aside several of the tables, creating a dance floor. The small quartet who had been playing in the back of the reception, moved closer.

Ginny rested elbow on the table in front of her and placed her chin on her fist, watching as Bill and Fleur danced their first dance together as husband and wife. Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Delacour stood side by side, both with handkerchiefs, sniffling while Arthur gently patted Molly's shoulder.

As the song came to an end, Bill leaned down and kissed his bride. She smiled sweetly as he lifted his head. Applause broke out again.

The next song started and Arthur and Molly and Fleur's parents joined them on the dance floor. Moments later, Kingsley and his wife as well as Tonks and Lupin joined in with other couples.

Hermione leaned toward Ginny and whispered, "Would you look at Tonks and Professor Lupin? I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the next wedding was theirs."

Ginny nodded in agreement as Lupin smiled down at Tonks. "They can't even hide how much they're in love."

Ron rolled his eyes, "You two are making me sick."

"That's just because you have no concept of love and romance," his sister told him.

"I know plenty about love and romance," he grumbled.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Just ask Lavender."

Hermione sat back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest, an angry look crossing her carefully made up face.

Ron's face turned a brilliant shade of red as he kicked his friend under the table.

Ginny covered her mouth with her hand and tried to bite back her laughter. Harry moved his legs out of Ron's reach and grinned at her.

"Ron, dear," his Aunt Hannah reached across the table and touched his arm. "Why don't you ask you're little girlfriend here to dance?"

If it was even possible, Ron's face burned an even brighter crimson, "She, uh, she's not my girlfriend."

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear," Hannah smiled indulgently. "It's just that the twins had said earlier that…oh, nevermind, those two are always causing trouble, aren't they?"

"Come on, Harry, dance with me," Ginny said suddenly, jumping to her feet.

He looked up at her, surprised, "Uh, okay." Harry hadn't planned on dancing with Ginny, he wasn't prepared for it. Now he was going to have to put his arms around her, hold her close, and hope nothing embarrassing happened.

"I think Ron wants to ask Hermione to dance," Ginny whispered as Harry took her hand in his and wrapped his other arm around her waist. "I just don't think he'll do it with us there and if he sees you dancing, well, you know he can't let you one up him."

Harry felt the slight tremor in her as he held her and he couldn't help but feel a bit proud that he could have that affect on her. "I, uh, I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid like ask someone other than Hermione."

"Kind of like when he asked Lavender out instead of Hermione."

"Exactly like that."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake," she hissed. "As if he could get any stupider!"

Harry twirled her around so he could see what she was seeing. Ron was dancing awkwardly with Fleur's friend Odette while Hermione danced with their cousin Simon. "Apparently he can."

"I swear, with his serious lack of brains, he's not going to get any N.E.W.Ts."

Chuckling, Harry looked down at her. She was staring at a spot over his shoulder, chewing on her bottom lip, pink spots burned her cheeks. He reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Ginny snapped out of whatever trance she was in and looked up at Harry. His eyes were shining like emeralds and she fought the urge to hug him tightly. There was something he wanted to say. "What is it, Harry?" She asked, her voice low.

"I…I…nothing," he spoke hoarsely.

She smiled understandably, "It's just an emotional day."

"Yeah, it is."

"I get the feeling you're hiding something from me, Harry."

"Why, uh, why do you say that?"

"I know you better than you think I do."

The music stopped and they stepped apart. "I know," he said. "And, well, that's kind of scary Gin."

She smiled, causing him to weaken at the knees. "What can I say, Harry, you're important to me."

His response was lost on her as the music started again, a fast upbeat number, and Ginny was swept off her feet, literally, by Charlie. He watched as she twirled away with her brother, laughing.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Hermione asked, appearing at his side.

"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."

"She's missed you, a lot."

He looked at his friend, an iron fist tightening around his heart. "Come on, Hermione, you know…it can't be. At least not now. She would want to go with us and I can't concentrate if I'm worrying about her. And there is already enough to worry about. If it ever got back to," he paused and lowered his voice. "Voldemort. Then he would try and use her."

"Harry, you can't hide behind that excuse. Ginny is part of an old wizarding family who has always defied him and fought against him. She already is a target."

Running a hand through his hair, Harry sighed and grabbed a glass of butterbeer, "Let's not talk about this now, Hermione. Where's Ron?"

Hermione's face scrunched up in an angry scowl, "Who knows? Who cares? Last I saw he was making a fool out of himself, throwing himself at one of Fleur's friends."

He bit his lip to keep from laughing, "As opposed to you flirting with Simon?"

"I wasn't flirting."

"Yeah you were. You were doing that fake laugh thing you did with Krum."

Her face darkened, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"And you kept touching his arm and smiling at him."

"What? Are you stalking me or something?"

"No," he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "But if you're going to try and make Ron jealous, you want to stop being so obvious."

"Oh!" Her face burning, Hermione stomped her foot and whirled away from him.

Chuckling, Harry took another swig from his butterbeer.

"Trouble in the girl department, Harry?"

He turned to see Lupin approaching him, "Nah, just having fun at Hermione and Ron's expense."

Lupin nodded knowingly, "They're still just friends, I take it."

"And if something doesn't happen soon, they're going to stay like that."

"You need one of them to admit their feelings for the other. They're both too unsure of how the other feels to act on it."

"But if it's so obvious to everyone else, why isn't it to them?"

"Sometimes we miss the most obvious things when they're right in front of our face."

Harry nodded slowly, "Kind of like you and Tonks?"

"That's different."

"How so?"

Lupin sighed, sounding as though he had the weight of the world pressing down on him. "What happens between adults is not the concern of children."

Harry laughed, "Oh, come on, Professor, you never tried to play the adult card before."

"I never had a reason to before. I saw you dancing rather closely with Ginny."

"I saw you dancing rather closely with Tonks."

"Touché. You know, Harry, there are times when you remind me entirely too much of James."

"I like to think that's a compliment."

Lupin smiled at him, "It definitely is."

"Were you at their wedding? My parents, I mean."

"Yes I was."

His interest piqued, Harry asked, "What was it like? I mean, I have a picture, Hagrid got it for me, but what was the ceremony like? Was it anything like this?"

"It was a very nice ceremony, much smaller than this one. Neither of their parents were alive and Lily wasn't speaking to her sister, so neither of them had family there. But they had plenty of friends. The entire Order was there and…and Sirius and I. The ceremony itself was rather quick and there was no band, but Sirius had brought his wireless and they danced to the music on that." Lupin smiled fondly at the memory. "They danced their first to the song Foxglove And Water Of Ocean (Make A Love Potion), a horrible one hit wonder that was popular that week. But James and Lily laughed as they danced and declared it to be their song. They were so happy, so much in love, I don't think they even needed music to dance to."

"I know they would be happy about you and Tonks," Harry said quietly.

Lupin's smile widened to one of understanding, "And you and Ginny."

Harry looked away, "I broke up with Ginny."

Lupin's mouth fell open with surprise, "What? When? Why?"

"You forgot where," Harry replied dryly.

"What happened, Harry?"

The young man shrugged, "With everything that's going on, I…I didn't think it was wise to be…romantically linked to anyone."

"There was a time I might have agreed with you, but with all that's going on, love is an important strength we can all use."

"What if Voldemort," Harry lowered his voice when a woman nearby gasped. "What if he found out? What if he went after Ginny to get to me?"

Lupin scratched his chin, "I see your point."

"Tonks is a trained auror, she can take care of herself, Ginny…Ginny can't."

"Don't sell her short, Harry, she's a strong, intelligent witch."

"And if anything happened to her…" He trailed off.

Lupin's shoulders slumped. If he could take all the worry, all the responsibility from Harry, he would do it in a heartbeat. But this was the young wizard's lot in life and all he could do was offer support. "You're a better man than I, Harry."

Smiling sadly, he shook his head, "No, I'm much weaker than I appear."

"Don't sell yourself short, Harry, you have more of your parents in you than you know. I see James' impulsiveness, quick mind, and athleticism combined with Lily's patient intelligence, strength of character, and deep loyalty. You couldn't ask for better genes and you will succeed. I know you will."

"Thank you, Professor."

Lupin rolled his eyes, "Please, I stopped being your professor years ago. Call me Remus."

"Because, Ronald, I said I didn't want to!"

Harry and Lupin turned to see Hermione stomp away from a red-faced Ron.

"Strike one, Ronnikins!" George shouted.

"Shut it, George!" Ron yelled back.

"Boys! Please, can you behave for once at your own brother's wedding!" Molly called out.

Ginny took off after Hermione who had disappeared into the house. "Hermione, what happened?"

Falling back onto the sofa in the parlor, Hermione huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, "Your stupid, pig-headed, immature brother! That's what happened!"

Ginny sank down beside her friend, "What did he do now?"

"I don't want to talk about it," she mumbled, wiping the back of her hands over her wet cheeks.

"I can hex him in seconds if it'll help."

"No, thank you, though."

"Does this have to do with him dancing with Odette?"

"Can you believe that he asked her and then he asked Adrienne, but when she turned him down, he decided to settle for me! This is like the whole Yule Ball thing again. He just assumes I'll be there for him when he runs out of other options."

"That's not true, Hermione, he cares for you, in his own prattish way, he does."

"I know he cares about me, as a friend, but…"

"But?" Ginny prodded.

"Nothing, it's stupid, I'm stupid."

"You're not stupid."

"Why does he have to be such a prat?" Hemione asked tearfully.

Ginny pulled her into a tight hug, "Because all men are."

"Harry isn't."

"Well then maybe you would've danced with Harry." A voice said bitterly.

Ginny and Hermione jumped and looked back at the doorway, seeing Ron and Harry standing in the doorway.

"Don't be a moron," Harry snapped, pushing Ron into the room.

Ginny stood as Hermione wiped her fingers over her cheeks. "I think I have to go," Ginny mumbled.

Feeling foolish and irrationally angry, Ron shuffled into the room with his head down. He knew Hermione was crying and that it was his fault. And when she looked up at him with a forced look of determination, despite her tear streaked cheeks and red, swollen eyes, he felt like the biggest jerk in the world. "Hermione…"

She stood abruptly, "I really should get back out there, I promised Tonks…"

"Come on, let me apologize."

"There's no need, Ron."

"You're crying."

Embarrassed, she touched her cheeks, "I am not."

"You were."

"So what?" She asked haughtily, throwing her head back. "It's no concern of yours."

"It is if I caused it."

Hermione let out a forced laugh, "Like I would waste any tears on you."

Hurt anger flooded Ron, "Fine. Whatever you want, Miss Know-It-All. Maybe you were crying because the only guy who would dance with you is my cousin who everyone knows is a poof."

Eyes narrowed, Hermione glared at him, "Like you would have a chance at all with any of Fleur's friends! Did you know Fleur asked Odette to dance with you because she felt sorry for you?"

"You just can't accept the fact that a pretty girl actually wants to dance with me!"

"He is so stupid!" Ginny growled. She and Harry were in the hallway listening to the conversation.

"Maybe one of us should go in there and break it up before one of them says something they might regret later," Harry whispered.

They were standing so close, Ginny could feel his breath on her neck when he spoke quietly. "No," she replied. "They have to work this out themselves or they never will at all."

Fresh tears fell from Hermione's eyes and she was angry with herself for letting Ron see her like this. She had once vowed that she would never resort to such female trickery to get a man, but she couldn't help it, they fell without her permission.

Ron swore under his breath and ran his hands through his hair, "Come on, Hermione, don't cry."

She swiped her hands over her cheeks, "I'm not."

He laughed quietly, "Even when I'm right you have to disagree with me."

"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction of being right."

"This is one of the stupidest arguments we've ever had."

"No it isn't."

Ron fought the urge to grab her by the shoulders and shake her until she could see what was right in front of her. "Yes it is."

She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her chin out defiantly, "No, the stupidest one we ever had was when you thought Viktor was using me to get information on Harry."

In the hallway, Harry groaned and banged his head softly against the wall, "Why did she have to bring up Krum?"

"Why didn't Ron just ask her dance in the first place?" Ginny shot back.

The anger that had slowly slipped from Ron came back in a rush, "Speaking of Vicky, why didn't you ask him to come to the wedding with you?"

"He's just a friend, Ron, and he's busy, traveling with the team."

"Oh, so you know his schedule now?"

"He sent me a letter from Spain last week."

"You still write to him?" Ron's voice rose.

"He is my friend, Ron. I write to you."

"But that's different!"

"How is that different!"

Ginny and Harry leaned a little closer to the door, both hoping that this would be it. Finally.

"B-because," Ron sputtered. "Because…I've been your mate longer!"

Harry groaned.

Ginny sighed.

"Length of time doesn't matter!" Hermione yelled back. "It's the quality, not the quantity!"

"What is that supposed to mean! You're better friends with Vicky than you are with me?"

"Wotcher Harry, Ginny!"

They both turned and shushed Tonks as she entered the hallway.

"What's going on?" She whispered.

"Ron and Hermione are arguing," Ginny explained.

Tonks' eyebrows rose in interest, "This is it?"

"We hope so."

"I never said I was better friends with Viktor," Hermione snapped. "I was just making a general statement about friendship! You knew me longer than you knew Lavender, but were obviously better friends with her!"

Ginny and Tonks both groaned as Harry smacked his forehead with his hand.

"That is totally different!" Ron roared. "Lavender was…a…a…a mistake!"

"There you are Dora," Lupin said, finding his girlfriend crowded with Harry and Ginny by the door to the Weasley's parlor.

Tonks put a finger to her lips and then held her hand out to him, "We're waiting for Ron and Hermione to finally admit they like each other."

"A mistake!" Hermione scoffed. "How many mistakes try to suck your face off on a regular basis?"

"You're just jealous!"

All four of the people gathered in the hallway groaned in unison at Ron's last remark.

Hermione gasped, "Jealous? Jealous of what? Of you wasting school time making out with the easiest girl at Hogwarts?"

"She is not the easiest girl in Hogwarts!"

"Ron, you are so, so stupid," Ginny murmured.

"Something interesting?" Fred whispered into his sister's ear, causing her to jump.

"Ron and Hermione are in there having the row of a lifetime," Lupin quietly explained to the twins.

"Oh," George nodded understandingly. "So this could be the funniest thing we witness or the saddest."

Ginny elbowed Harry in the side when he chuckled.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Hermione cried. "Did I insult your girlfriend!"

"She's not my girlfriend!"

"Oh, that's right, you broke up with her. Was it because she actually sucked the tonsils right out of your throat, Won-Won?"

"No, it was because, like all girls, she got too clingy and whiny!"

Even the twins groaned at that comment.

"Strike two," George whispered.

Ginny snorted, "More like strike seven hundred forty-eight."

Hermione laughed angrily, "Well then I guess it's a good thing you'll never be able to get a girl to date you again! You won't have to worry about clingy, whiny women when you're living alone for the rest of your life!"

"You'll be living right next door in Spinster Alley!"

"What is going on here?" Arthur Weasley asked, surprised to see the small crowd gathering in his hallway.

Fred motioned for him to be quiet while George explained, "Ron, Hermione, fight."

Arthur shut his mouth and nodded knowingly, loitering with the others.

"Spinster Alley? Did you make that up all by yourself? How clever! You must be proud!" Hermione shouted.

"Sorry that I can be wittier than you? Hard to admit someone else can be smart, isn't it, Miss Know-It-All!" Ron yelled back.

"Oh, yeah! You are so witty I can hardly stand it! No, I can't stand you! You call me Miss Know-It-All when the truth is you would have failed out of Hogwarts years ago without me!"

"What?" Arthur gasped.

The others ignored him.

Ron laughed, "Yeah right! Whatever makes you feel important!"

"I don't need you copying my homework to feel important!"

"I knew it!" Lupin hissed.

"No, you have your Bulgarian boyfriend to make you feel important!" Ron shot back.

"He is not my boyfriend!"

"What's the matter, can't get a boyfriend!"

"Oh, Ron, no," Arthur moaned.

Tears burned in Hermione's eyes and she wasn't sure if they were caused by anger or pain, both bubbled up inside her. "You are such a prat."

Ron turned from where he had been glaring at the empty fireplace grate. Her last insult hadn't been hurled at him, it had been quietly tossed and barely bounced off him. He knew, immediately, that he shouldn't have looked at her. All the fight drained from him. She was pale, her eyes shining with unshed tears, as she fell back on the sofa, her hands fisted on her lap. "Hermione."

"I don't want to fight anymore," her voice trembled.

"Neither do I," he admitted, crossing to sit on the other end of the sofa. "I just…"

"What?"

"I just don't think I can talk to you without fighting."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

The two of them sat in painful, embarrassing silence, not knowing that a whole group of people were standing in the hallway, collectively holding their breath.

"Ron?"

"What?"

"Why did you really break up with Lavender?"

"I didn't really care for her. She was too clingy and whiny, but I know all women are not like that. You're not like that."

Hermione looked over at him, he was staring straight ahead. "No, I'm an aloof Know-It-All," she whispered.

He glanced at her, "There is so much more to you than that."

Hermione met his gaze and held it. "You…you said she was a mistake."

Ron swallowed hard, "She was a mistake. She wasn't you."

More tears slid from Hermione's eyes, but this time she didn't try to wipe them away. "What, uh, what do you mean?"

His face turned such a bright shade of red that it made his hair look almost brown in comparison. "What do you think I mean?" He mumbled.

George leaned closer, "What're they saying?"

"I don't know, I can't hear," Harry whispered back.

"Quiet can't be good," Arthur said.

"Arthur, what are you doing in here?" Molly demanded.

"Quiet, dear, we're waiting to see if Ron and Hermione finally stop fighting," Arthur explained quietly.

"This is Bill's wedding and you're all gathered in here? Come along, leave them alone." Molly tugged at the twins' robes, pulling them back. "Go, leave them in peace, all of you. Remus, Tonks, I am surprised."

"Why Molly?" Tonks asked. "You know you're as curious as we are."

Ginny poked Harry in the side and nodded toward the doorway. He shook his head in response. She poked harder. Sighing resignedly, Harry crept forward and looked around the doorframe.

Both Ron and Hermione moved closer, meeting in the middle of the sofa. No more words needed to be said. With a shaking hand, he reached up and gently brushed the tears from her cheek. Hermione trembled from head to foot, excited and madly in love. Ron slowly leaned closer, breathing in her scent and feeling dizzy with emotion.

"Ron," she breathed, his name spilling from her quivering lips.

Without another word, he slid his hand from her cheek around to the back of her neck, bringing her closer. When their lips touched, it was a moment of revelation for both of them. Ron felt as though the world had disappeared beneath them and he was falling into her. Hermione wrapped her arms around him, toying with the thick red locks that brushed the collar of his robes. Her heart felt as though it was going to burst right through her chest and she clung to him like a lifeline.

Simultaneous moans came from deep within them as Ron pulled her closer and leaned forward until she lay back on the sofa beneath him.

Harry jumped back, feeling like a voyeur. Seven pairs of eyes were on him. He gave them a grin and a thumbs up. They all cheered in response.

Ron jumped up at the sound of people talking loudly, excitedly.

Hermione opened her eyes, confused, "What?"

"I, uh, I think we should go…um, if my, uh, if my mum were to…"

"Oh." Realization dawned on her as her face burned red.

Ron grinned down at her. She still lay on the sofa before him, her hair mussed, her lips swollen and her cheeks red. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he whispered.

Hermione pushed herself up and hugged him tightly, "It's been a long six years, Won-Won."

"Don't call me that, Ninny."

She pulled back and smiled at him. His robes were rumpled, his hair was messed up from her hands, and face was slowly returning back to its normal color. "I…I love you."

His grin threatened to split his face, "That's nice to know, seeing as I love you too and all."

"What, uh, what do we do now?"

Ron shrugged and stood, straightening his robes and offering her his hand, "We go back outside and you dance with me."

"Oh really?" She ran her hands over her hair. "And what if I don't want to?"

"You have to."

"Why do I have to?"

He laced his fingers through hers and grinned at her, "Because you love me."

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly, "I'm going to be paying for that the rest of my life, aren't I?"

Ron stole a quick kiss, "Damn right you are."

They walked into the hallway oblivious to the crowd that had gathered there. The two of them stopped abruptly, surprised.

Molly had both hands clamped over her mouth, tears shining in her eyes. Arthur and Lupin smiled at them as the twins, Harry, Ginny, and Tonks broke out in applause.

Hermione blushed and stared at a spot on the floor while Ron puffed out his chest and grinned proudly.