I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. The soft silver gown was carefully designed so that it clung perfectly, showing off my slim delicate figure, while leaving my back almost completely bare. My father was not going to be pleased by the fact that the tattoo of a rose on my lower back was clearly visible. The skirt, which just barely covered my rear, was loose and swirled around my slim legs. Despite the extra fabric, there was along slit on the right side of the gown so that one would see occasionally glimpses of my legs. Even in my four-inch heels my gown nearly reached the floor. I smiled as Liz stepped back to admire her handiwork with my hair. She had carefully, and loosely, curled my hair before pulling it into smooth piles atop my head, allowing a few choice tendrils to fall delicately around my face. I put on a touch of lipstick, before adding my long diamond earrings.
"You look amazing," Liz said, smiling warmly.
"Thanks," I answered, standing up and grabbing my small silver clutch bag and a thin shawl that matched my blue eyes perfectly.
"You look just like grandmother in that movie," she added, and then grinned, "but shorter." I laughed and hit her playfully with my bag. I knew she was referring to our mother's mother, Anne Hathaway, because I had always looked a lot like her.
"I'll see you later," I said, and hugged her briefly before walking downstairs.
Hermione was sitting in one of the chairs, looking amazing in her slinky red dress. She had managed to smooth her hair down and had it pulled into a careful knot at the nape of her neck. Ginny looked fabulous in her gown of emerald green, it plunged daringly in the front, and she had chosen to simply curl her hair in loose ringlets.
"Oh, Annabelle, you look breath taking," Molly said as she walked out of the kitchen. I smiled warmly and hugged her.
"Thank you, so do you," I returned, as Harry and Ron walked into the living room as well, both immediately complimenting their wives.
Ginny looked a little disappointed, clearly she had expected a more…excited reaction. Hermione actually looked angry, and crossed her arms, glaring moodily at the fireplace. I sighed, feeling sorry for the other two girls.
"I think your number one fan is here," Molly whispered to me, nudging me with her elbow.
My eyes darted over to the kitchen, where George was standing perfectly still, staring at me with wide eyes. I smiled shyly, feeling a slight heat creep into my cheeks as his gaze roamed over my body. Before I could move or speak, it seemed, he had me in his arms, kissing me harshly.
"See? That's how you're supposed to react!" Hermione told Ron angrily, gesticulating wildly. "You're supposed to be overwhelmed when you see me, so much so that words aren't sufficient!" She glared at him, and he gaped at her for a few moments.
George pulled away from me and smiled, noticing just how tall my heels were.
"You're actually a normal height this evening," he teased, and with a laugh I hit his chest playfully. He caught my hand and leaned forward and down so his lips were mere millimeters from my ear. "You look astoundingly, breath takingly beautiful. I've never seen anyone as beautiful as you this evening," he murmured huskily. I smiled softly and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"You don't look half-bad yourself, Mr. Weasley," I replied sweetly. "We really do need to be going though," I added apologetically.
"Well we're just apparating," Molly volunteered. "You will of course be going in groups of four, and I think it might be best if Ginny and Harry went second with George and Annabelle," she added. "Keep the two media darlings close to the last to arrive."
I laughed and nodded. Ron and Hermione walked over to stand beside Molly and Arthur and with a loud crack, all four of them disapparated. Ginny and Harry walked over to stand beside George, holding Ginny on his other side. Ginny grinned and raised her eyebrows at me. I smirked a little and glanced at the clock.
"Two minutes," I announced, and George nodded. As one, the four of us apparated to the ministry.
The second that Harry and I appeared, flashbulbs began going off and questions were being shouted at us. I smiled warmly and held up a hand, and the shouting died down enough for me to be heard.
"I will gladly answer any questions you have in a pre-scheduled interview," I announced calmly. "As for this evening, I am willing to answer five questions, and I will call on you for your questions," I informed them calmly. Immediately thirty hands shot into the air. Harry and Ginny were speaking quietly to a couple of reporters a few feet away. George stood beside me, impassive and looking a touch bored in actuality.
"You," I said calmly, pointing clearly at a man two rows back.
"Miss Calavierres, is it true that George Weasley, whom you are here with tonight, is the father of your twin ten-year-old daughters?" the reporter asked.
"That would be true," I replied calmly, and nodded to another reporter.
"Miss Calavierres, are the rumors that you are currently, and have been for some time, living with George Weasley true?"
"Yes, those rumors are true," I answered, and gestured to the next reporter.
"Have you given any thought to the offer from the Appleby Arrows to take Harry Potter's space next year?"
"No, I have not made any plans regarding my Quidditch career. I have very little interest in being Harry Potter's successor," I responded. Honestly, nothing in the world would make me take a position on a team that Harry had already been on.
"Miss Calavierres, do you ever plan on having more children?" A reporter from Witch Weekly asked.
"I would love to have more children at some point," I began, "unfortunately that is not really much of an option right now."
"Do you ever plan on getting married?" The Witch Weekly Reporter followed up immediately.
"Someday I would love to be married," I answered honestly.
"To George Weasley?" Someone shouted. I stared blankly at the crowd, and George grabbed my hand to pull me into the Gala.
Of course I wanted to be married to George. He was the father of my children, and I loved him desperately. George's grip gentled considerably once we were away from the reporters, and he led me to the table where our names signified our seats. I smiled warmly at the other individuals sitting there as I took my seat. The French Minister sat across from me with his wife, Fred and Angelina sat on the other side of George, and the American Minister's daughter sat beside me with her husband on her other side. She was enormously pregnant, and I smiled warmly.
"How are you, Jennifer?" I asked sweetly, setting my hands delicately in my lap.
"Bloated, uncomfortable, retaining water, and hungry," she replied with a grin. I laughed richly, and threw my arms around her in a hug. "How have you been?" she asked, setting her hand on mine which was now resting on the table.
"Wonderful, the girls are in school now, so I finally have a little time to myself," I answered honestly. "When are you due?" I asked curiously.
"The day after tomorrow," She told me with a smile. "The doctor tells me that it's triplets," she added.
"Wow," I replied, and shuddered slightly. "I had a hard enough time with Gianna and Adele, I couldn't imagine what it would have been like to have a third." She laughed warmly.
"Anna, I need to speak with you for a moment," George said quietly, his hand resting on the bare flesh of my back. I nodded and looked back at Jennifer.
"Sorry, Jennifer, but I need to go for a few moments," she nodded and I stood to follow George out of the room.
He pulled me into an empty office, and looked around nervously. I waited expectantly, as he swallowed convulsively before fiddling with his collar.
"George, love, what's going on?" I asked quietly, searching his face. He took a deep breath and looked down at me.
"I love you Annabelle," he said quietly. "I don't know if I can live without you. I wanted to die everyday of the eleven years that we were apart. I want to be certain that I never have to be apart from you again," he told me in a gentle tone, and I stared at him, feeling a sudden bout of nerves. "Annabelle, I've loved you since the first moment I saw you. I know now that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, every morning, every evening, every night," he said quietly, pulling something out of his pocket. I stared at the small black box, not daring to hope that it was what I wanted it to be. "I bought this for you twelve years ago, on this exact day," he said quietly, opening the box. I gasped, and pressed one f my hands to my lips, feeling tears well in my eyes.
Sitting in the box was a ring. There was a large sapphire on the gold band with two diamonds and an emerald on either side. George carefully removed it from the box.
"I think you might want to see this," He said quietly, and I took the ring in my fingers, looking at the engraving on the inside of the band. Engraved carefully on the inside I saw: "Anna & George." I looked up at him.
"Anna, will you marry me?' he asked quietly. I burst into sobs and flung my arms around him.
"Of course I'll marry you, you idiot!" I cried, cupping his face in my hands and kissing him desperately. He grinned and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me against him tightly. After a few moments, I remember I still held the ring, and he laughingly placed it on my finger.
I laughed as he grabbed my hand and dragged me back into the other room, where Fred was watching the doorway carefully. When he saw George come back in the room grinning as broadly as he was, he leapt to his feet.
"SHE SAID YES!" HE shouted, running toward us. I laughed richly, and shrieked as he swept me into a tight hug. He set me down and turned to place a smacking kiss on his brother's lips, causing George to splutter indignantly.
Arthur and Molly both looked over at Fred's words, and Molly looked like she was nearly in tears as she made her way over to where we stood, followed closely by the rest of the Weasley clan. I was hugged and passed around, while George was congratulated and punched.
I finally found myself once again in George's arms, and he didn't let go of me again for the rest of the evening.