Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Jo Rowling.

My Best Friends Wedding

Hermione Granger sighed. She swallowed the tears that were welling in her eyes and the lump in her throat as she watched them across the large banquet hall. There he was, the one love of her life, holding the hand of another woman - his wife.

She looked at him - his ocean blue eyes, heard his melodious laugh, and that smile - that smile that made her heart ache... yes, this was the man of her dreams. Ron Weasley.

And yet, he was holding the hand of a slim blond girl... a woman. She was a member of the Ministry, a well-known Auror. A good friend of Harry and Ron's, considering they worked with her in the Ministry.

But you've known him much longer than she has, said the annoying voice in the back of her mind. True, she had harbored feelings for her best friend Ron for almost ten years now. They were all adults, moving on with their lives - and who was she to ruin a great friendship? Just because she loved him? Honestly...

She was sitting at a decorated table in a dimly lit room, with many other wizards and witches that were good friends of the Weasley family, as well as others that she didn't know. This was his wedding reception, and many were here to help celebrate the special day of marriage for the youngest Weasley son. There was a large stretch of food and a few people dancing to the slow quiet music. It was all so perfect... sickeningly perfect.

Even Jessica, Ron's new wife. She was the epitome of perfection. She had long blond hair and flawless tan skin that contrasted her white wedding dress. Beautiful facial features, kind to everyone, funny, sweet and great at her job, even her teeth were pearly and straight. How could Hermione ever dream of being that kind of girl for Ron when she was so different?

She just sat there in a darker portion of the large room, playing nervously with a napkin in her hand. She didn't even know why she was there. She didn't want to be here, to have her heart ripped out and stomped on, to watch the one and only thing she wanted so wretchedly to slip through her fingers... no, she didn't come for that. She came to once and for all prove to him that she was in fact his best friend, that she would do anything and everything for him, even if it killed her inside. She would always be there for him. Or, at least, in the past she would have. Now he had Jessica - he didn't need Hermione anymore.

She watched them, Ron and Jessica with Harry and Ginny, who were newly engaged, as they talked and laughed with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Hermione mentally cursed the fact that she should be over with them, talking and having fun. She should be the one in his arms, wearing his ring, being his wife. That's what should have been, had she given into her feelings and overcome her fear of rejection, she could have ended up his girl, the woman he married. But no - now she had no chance. He was taken.

Suddenly, she felt her fingertips brush over uplifted letters on the napkin. She looked down and felt a tear slide down her cheek as she read the inscription:

Today I married my best friend.

No. That was couldn't be true. No matter how long he had known this girl, and no matter how much he loved her, this statement could never be true, for Hermione was his best friend. Not his one and only, but... how could she have let this happen? How on earth could this girl, whom he had barely known a year, so quickly have taken her place as his best friend?

Suddenly, her heart dropped. She listened as the song changed to that of the couple's first song. Looking up in horror, she watched as Ron and Jessica made their way to the center of the floor and, in each other's arms, began to dance.

It was suddenly too much for Hermione to handle. She quietly stood and rushed from the room. She ran past everything, blinded by her tears. All she saw was the doorway and knew that she had to get out, but suddenly heard a voice calling her.

"Hermione!" hissed Mrs. Weasley. "You're not leaving are you?"

Hermione paused. Could she lie to Mrs. Weasley?

"No. I just had to run to the loo for a tissue." She told her with a fake smile. "It's so beautiful."

Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Indeed, my dear."

Hermione continued to run. She couldn't escape now. She had to endure this torturous evening alone. She had to watch the man she loved begin his life with another woman and endure her own alone.

Finally reaching the bathroom, she broke down into heart wrenching sobs, sliding down the back of the door as it closed. It wasn't for the heart that was breaking or for the ache that was overwhelming her body. It was for the little girl inside, the one who had finally given up on her dream of loving Ron Weasley someday.

She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder and her shoulders calmed in their shaking. She knew who it was immediately, for it was the only one who knew about her hidden pain.

"Just leave me alone, Luna." Hermione whimpered. "I can't face him right now."

"And why not?" came her singsong voice.

"Because. He's a married man now. I can't have him. I don't want to be around him anymore! If he's going to be happy with her, then I want a chance for happiness too! I want to get on with my life, but I can't be happy without him!" she cried out in confusion.

"You want him to be happy?"

"Of course." She said, wiping her eyes. "I had just always hoped that he would find happiness with me."

"But you want his happiness more than yours?" Luna asked, her blue eyes sparkling.

Hermione nodded glumly.

"Then he needs to see you being happy for him. He needs his best friends approval."

"I can't give him that, Luna."

"But he needs it."

"Well, I need him."

"And yet, you want his happiness?"

"Fine!" she yelled in frustration, and then she sighed in misery. "Fine. Just leave me alone, Luna. I'll do it."

When the two friends finally entered back into the ballroom, their dance had ended. Everyone had gone back to eating, talking and laughing. Harry and Ginny were talking to Ron and Jessica when Hermione and Luna walked up. She saw him look up at them and she felt her heart melt, knowing that this was the final goodbye.

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, nearly tackling her in a hug.

"Ron," was all she could say.

"My very best friend." He said with a smile.

That was it. That was all she needed to hear to make her eyes sting with tears. But she held them back as she pulled away to see his crooked smile.

"I can't believe I'm a married man now." he chuckled.

"Me, niether." Hermione said in a small voice and a forced smile.

"You're not leaving, are you?" he said.

She nodded. "I have to."

He narrowed his eyebrows. "You have to?"

"Yeah, I... I just have to."

"Well, thanks for coming. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever." he said simply.

"Well, it happens." she smiled.

"You promise to owl me soon, right?"

She nodded, though she didn't know how honest she was being to her best friend. He suddenly pulled her into another hug, holding her close.

"I'm gonna miss you, 'Mione."

Tears again were playing in her eyes, as she held him close for what she knew would be the last time. She may love him with all her heart, all that she was and more, but Luna, being wise beyond her years, was right. Hermione wanted Ron to be happy, and then she would go in search of her own, even if it meant living without him.

She pulled away and smiled at him, placing a hand on his face. "Be happy." she said, not bothering to wipe away the tears on her face.

"I will." he promised.

Then turning, she began to walk away.

"Don't forget to owl!" he called after her.

She didn't turn- she couldn't. She was being strong for his sake. She knew, now that he was happy, she could walk out of his life, knowing he would be okay.

And she did. There would be no owls, no contact with him anymore. She would go in search for her happiness all over again, maybe even finding love again. But never would she love anyone else the way she loved Ron Weasley.

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A/N: Not my best, I know. And it was kinda short. I just wrote it up while I was bored and at work one day, so excuse the randomness! lol!

Yes, Ron and Mione are my fave pairing. So there will be more of these one shot fics, but i will try to mix it up from time to time. (Though my next one is also Ron/Mione...)

REVIEW!!! -grin-