Faded Pictures

Chapter 7: These are the Times

Hermione awkwardly huddled against Ron's muscular form, attempting to fight back the chill of the night. His arm was draped delicately around her shoulders as they walked aimlessly in the crisp air. The silence was deafening and had begun to suffocate the couple, neither being able to begin.

Ron crossed his fingers in his pocket before clearing his throat. "Hermione, I don't think you could ever understand the absolute agony I was in when I finally figured out what went wrong." His throat constricted as he was barely able to choke the words out.

They had reached a small park, and as Ron guided Hermione toward a lonesome bench, he pulled her closer to his side. Indicating that she should sit, Ron stooped in front of her, holding her hands gently in his. He was about to speak when Hermione pulled one hand away and raised it, effectively halting his words. She calmly replaced her hand in his and sighed deeply.

"No, Ron, you're wrong. I can understand. It was probably the same feeling that I had when I realized what an idiot I was. I should never have run off the way I did. It was impulsive and completely unlike anything I had ever done before. My mother tried to get me to listen to reason, but I was so blinded by my self-pity that I just couldn't think things through." Hermione paused momentarily to wipe her returning tears from her cold cheeks. "I don't know how you could ever forgive me for not only ruining what we had over something trivial, but also for dragging this out so long. You were always losing your temper and saying things you didn't mean. I knew that. I overreacted and made us lose precious years of our lives that we could have been spending together." She sniffed and laughed bitterly. "Look at me now."

Ron took Hermione's hands back in his own and squeezed them gently. "I forgave you long ago, Hermione. I tried to find you to…to make things better. I just didn't know how. I do now, because I know what went wrong. It's not entirely your fault. I was stupid too. If there's anything in the world that matters right this moment, though, it is that we still have time. We can fix this, Hermione. We can build our relationship back to its former legacy. If you'll only give me a chance, I can give you the fairy-tale romance that I know you wished ours had been."

Ron fumbled in his pocket to pull out the ring. Raising it to reveal its contents to the woman before him, he went down on one knee. "I have always and will always love you more than words can say. You are the brightest, most caring woman that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. What happened all those years ago was a tragic misunderstanding, but, I need you to understand me now. You complete me, and I'm tired of living as half a man. Let's put all this behind us and set our lives back in the order they're meant to be in…together forever in marriage."

Ron removed the ring from the box, looking deep into Hermione's tear-filled brown eyes. "Hermione Granger, will you marry me?" The ring poised for placement upon her hand, Ron's breath caught in his throat as he saw her nod almost imperceptibly.

Slipping the ring onto her finger, Ron rose, pulling Hermione to his chest. "You have made me the happiest man ever." He loosened his grip on her to tilt her chin upward and place a tender kiss on the lips he'd missed so much.

"I love you, Ron." Hermione wrapped her arms tightly around the red-head's waist and kissed him soundly. She pulled back slightly and furrowed her brow. "This isn't over yet, though. You know that, don't you?" She fluttered her fingers over his chest, displaying the two rings that now adorned her finger. "There are still matters that have to be dealt with."

Ron sighed and pulled Hermione firmly against his chest once again. "Of course, Xan… I know. As long as I can be sure you are definitely mine, I'll stand by you through the whole ordeal."

"Oh, there's no questioning that, darling. My heart belongs to you, incontestably."

Hermione shivered nervously as she and Ron waited for Xan to arrive. She had called him and suggested that he meet her in the park to which she and Ron had adjourned after karaoke. The night was pressing in on the two as they sat in silence. Glancing around, she spotted Harry and Ginny strolling along a path nearby and Draco huddled with Pansy on a bench across the street. She smiled inwardly at how everyone had insisted on being present in case something 'went down.' Scattered around the park and the surrounding area, her friends mulled protectively, trying to act casual.

Ginny and Leslie, being the only friends of Hermione's that would be familiar to Xan, had disguised themselves with glamour charms. Ginny now sported chocolate brown hair, instead of her normal flaming locks. Leslie, declaring she'd always wanted to be a blonde, had transformed herself into a cherub-like, blue eyed beauty. Leslie was draped over Seamus's arm, swooning rather convincingly.

Ron tapped his foot impatiently as the minutes ticked slowly away. "Where is he, 'Mione?" He whispered fervently in his fiancée's ear, his warm breath tickling her face and making her shiver more noticeably.

"I'm right here, Hermione."

Xan always had an odd way of appearing out of thin air without Apparating. The dark, almost ominous, look in his eyes chilled Hermione to the bone and she had to fight to keep from burying her face against Ron. She had never witnessed this brooding, dangerous side to Xan before. She knew she had to be strong, though. Disliking the manner in which he was towering over her, she rose to her feet.

"Alexander," Hermione began. Her voice quavered and she had to check herself before continuing. "I feel like I don't know you anymore. I thought I had a fairly good grasp on what your personality was and, based on my conclusions, I had agreed to spend my life with you. You had, until yesterday, proved me right at every turn, but now… I see that I was wrong. You are not the man I thought you were. I needed some time to think things over. I felt so lost, alone, and helpless. I decided to lean upon your offer that was made so generously, thinking that things would return to normal after I took a few days to cope. Things might have gone differently if you hadn't shown your true colors, but now, I do not want to marry you."

Xan's eyes narrowed menacingly, but Hermione stood firm. She felt Ron at her side, a comforting reassurance that she was completely safe.

"I suppose you're the reason for this," Xan spat venomously at Ron, who placed an arm protectively around Hermione's shoulders.

"No, you're the ultimate reason for this, Alexander Diego. You are behaving like a petulant child." Hermione stomped her foot indignantly. "Ron's return has made things abundantly clear to me. There is no way, after being reunited with him, that I could marry the person you really are." She pulled the ring he had given her from her pocket and thrust it forward, dropping it unceremoniously in his waiting hand. "Goodbye, Alexander."

Xan's fist tightened around the ring, his eyes burning into Hermione's. His jaw stiffened in anger and, before anyone had realized anything, he had grabbed Hermione's wrist with his free hand. "You can't do this to me! Do you have any idea what you're--"

Xan never got to finish his statement because it was abruptly cut short with Ron's fist. Out of shock, Xan let go of Hermione's wrist. He raised a hand to his jaw, pressing his fingers to the spot where Ron had hit him. In an instant, Xan had his wand out and pressed against Ron's throat. "Oh, this just keeps getting better, doesn't it?" He laughed a deep maniacal laugh.

Hermione froze, eyes wide open, as her ex-fiancé held his wand to Ron's throat. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Harry coming up behind Xan. She inwardly heaved a sigh of relief that Xan had decided to bask in his intimidating glory.

When Harry stepped on a stick, making a cracking noise, Xan whirled around. "Harry Potter," he laughed, "I should have known. What? Your buddy Ronald can't handle me on his own?"

Harry glared at Xan, one hand aiming his wand, the other curling into a fist at his side. "Ron could take you out at any second he chooses. He doesn't need me. It would just give me so much pleasure to take care of you myself."

"Big words from a big man, I see." Xan smirked cruelly. "Oh how our Savior has fallen. You resort to attacking innocent people in the street and ass fucking faggots."

Harry opened his mouth to say something but halted as Draco grabbed him by the collar. No one had seen him approaching and everyone was caught off guard.

"Don't ever call me a fag, you insignificant little fuck!" Draco's fist connected firmly with Xan's nose and a cracking sound filled the air.

"Shit!" Xan pulled back, holding his nose as blood began to ooze from it. "You all are nothing but a bunch of cowards, ganging up on me. This isn't worth it. She's not worth it."

"She's worth more than you could ever understand." Ron growled, moving closer to Hermione.

"You'll regret this, Hermione. This guy isn't half the man that I am and you'll come to your senses soon enough. I want you to realize that when you do, it will already be too late." Xan gave Hermione one last disapproving sneer before turning to leave her life for what she hoped was forever.

"I'd have to be high and out my mind to ever regret this," Hermione muttered under her breath before turning to wrap her arms around Ron.

"Well that was rather anti-climactic," Draco drawled.

"Yeah, I expected more of a fight out of him." Ron ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "At least that's out of the way."

"Now the real fun can begin, right guys?" Harry clapped Ron on the back. "So…how about that wedding? Are there arrangements already being made?"

"Harry, please, I don't think we should get married right away." Hermione gave Ron a reassuring squeeze. "Hopefully it will be soon, though."

"Definitely soon…we've waited too long for this." Ron kissed the top of Hermione's head softly.

"That we have, mate…that we have." Harry hugged both his friends enthusiastically and the celebration of the engagement began.

Many months later…

"You may kiss the bride." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he finally got to speak the words he'd been waiting so long to say. He was filled with pride that Ron and Hermione had asked him to officiate. There had never been a couple he had been so pleased to see finally get married.

Ron's blue eyes shined brightly as he pulled Hermione to him. He looked at her, taking in her beautiful white gown, her sweet brown eyes, and her lovely smile before kissing her tenderly. "I love you so much, Hermione Weasley."

"I love you too, Ron." A few tears slipped from Hermione's eyes as she gripped Ron's hands.

The couple was too completely involved in their own little world to hear the tumultuous applaud coming from the guests. The turnout for the wedding was amazing. Ron and Hermione's wedding was the biggest social event in the Wizarding world since the End of the War celebration. Hundreds of people filled the Great Hall at Hogwarts and thousands waited out on the lawns. Everyone wanted to be a part of the merriment, but, at the moment, no one shared in the joy that the couple had looking into each other's eyes.

Drawn back suddenly, Ron and Hermione turned, smiling, to face the world as Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Bilius Weasley.

Later that night…

"Hmm hmm hmmm, yeah."

The End

Author's Note: Sorry this has taken so long, but… ok, there's no excuse. It's actually been done since last semester. It just didn't seem right and I didn't get around to fixing it 'til today. Well, it's been fun and traumatizing at points, but I guess it's time to say goodbye to this story. For those of you who don't get that last little bit… you just don't get it. Thanks always to my wonderful and lovely beta-reader, Azu Luna, and also to my little sister for support and my fiancé just for fun times and hmm hmm hmmm, yeah.