Hi guys. I'm sorry it's been so long. I'm also sorry that I have short chapters. Iuno…it's just my style of writing, you know? Even when I write non-fan fiction stories I always make my chapters short. I think it's because a lot of writers that I look up to and admire have short chapters. In any case…I'm going to try my darnedest to just finish this up so I start brainstorming for the sequel. Trust me; I'm not going to mess up with the sequel. This is when you guys will see that my story wasn't as cliché and predictable as it seemed. The only reason I'm even making it a sequel is that I felt I had to explain this all first before I could launch into that. Anyway…now that I've bored you all, onto the story. Please enjoy and review.
"You look beautiful, Fleur." Hermione said to the older girl, as she admired herself in the mirror.
"Well of course, 'Ermione…zis iz my wedding and I am 'alf veela after all." She fluffed her luminous blonde hair as Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione. She turned round and smiled. "Come along, pretty darlings!" She said pinching their cheeks. "Let us go find my precious Gabrielle!" She then glided from the room. "Gabrielle!" She sang. "Where are you little one? It is almost time!" The two girls could hear the rich fabric of her elegant opalescent dress robes rustling together.
Ginny stuffed her fist in her mouth to keep from laughing. Hermione giggled herself. "Oh come on. It is almost time; let's go see if your mum needs any help."
It turned out Mrs. Weasley needed a lot of help. As she was telling the arriving guests where to take their seats, she wiped the tears that were streaming down her cheeks away with a handkerchief. "Mum?" Ginny asked, running towards her mother just as Hagrid approached, Buckbeak at his side. "Mum, are you alright?"
Mrs. Weasley stifled a sob. "Oh yes, I'm fine! It's just….I can't believe my little Billy is getting married this evening! I remember when he was just this high." She cried, holding up a hand just below her waist. She looked at her measurement and began crying again.
"Oh, Mum." Ginny said, giving her mother a brief hug.
"It'll be alright, Molly." Hagrid said gruffly, giving her a pat on the back which nearly sent her flying. "I got yer ring bearer here. Where shall I put 'im?" Hagrid asked, puffing out his chest proudly.
"Oh, you can just tie him up over there…." She answered, distractedly, wiping her eyes.
Hermione and Ginny followed Hagrid to the weeping willow at the far end of the garden where he tethered Buckbeak to the trunk. "That should keep 'im." Said Hagrid, admiring his handiwork.
Mrs. Weasley bustled over to them, still dabbing at her eyes. "Girls, could you please go find Fleur, Gabrielle, and Tonks. I'll go look for the boys. We're just about ready to begin now. She hurried into the house and two young witches followed after her, waving good bye to Hagrid who was just taking his seat.
They found Fleur and Gabrielle in the kitchen, talking in excited, high pitched French to a woman whom could only be their mother. "Excuse me, Fleur? Mrs. Weasley said we should come get you, as we're almost ready to begin." Fleur squealed in excitement, kissing the air around her mother's cheeks and grabbing Gabrielle's hand, taking her to the door that lead to the garden, waiting for the signal.
Hermione and Ginny then set out to look for Tonks. They finally found her in the living room, locked in an embrace with Lupin. She had changed her hair so it was long, black, and wavy, falling in silkily down her back against her pale gold dress robes. Hermione looked away, feeling embarrassed as Ginny, stifling a giggle, cleared her throat. Tonks and Lupin looked up, Lupin seeming as embarrassed as Hermione felt but Tonks merely grinned. "Yes Ginny?"
Ginny contained her laughter. "Mum wanted us to tell you that we're ready to begin." She said.
"Oh alright. Thank you." She pecked Lupin a quick kiss on the lips before walking out of the room, her head held high. Lupin flushed again, adjusted his worn, graying dress robes and followed her.
The two girls waited a moment, before erupting into peals of laughter, and following the pair. They stood with Fleur, Gabrielle, and Tonks in front of the glass door, watching the scene unfolding before them. The sun was just beginning to set, and the five girls watched as dragonflies zoomed over head, a light breeze rustling the leaves and shaking the summer blossoms off their branches onto the people sitting on folding chairs in the grass below.
Ron approached the five girls, his brothers and Harry walking behind him. He couldn't stop staring at Hermione. The light was hitting her in such a way that her hair seemed to shine, her dress robes were sparkling. He kept looking at her, drinking her in, hoping to etch this memory of her into his mind forever. She must have felt his gaze on her because she looked away from Ginny whom she had been talking to and she turned to Ron and smiled. He smiled back, and felt his ears turn red because she had caught him looking but he didn't turn away. Instead, he plucked up his courage and ignored his brothers and Harry and walked right up to her. "You look beautiful, Hermione."
She blushed. "Ron, you've seen me in these before."
"I know, and you looked beautiful then too."
She blushed again. "Thank you, Ron. You look very handsome."
Now it was Ron's turn to blush. He shook his head and opened his mouth to respond when George interrupted him. "Oi! Would you two love birds cut it out? We're gonna miss everything!"
They both turned their attention to the door as it flew open and the voices of three beautiful witches trickled in. Fleur had argued for veelas to sing but Mrs. Weasley had ruled that they would distract everyone from the bride and groom and Fleur, always wanting to be the center of attention, agreed.
Gabrielle grabbed her basket of tiger lilies and stepped out onto the white silk that ran down the middle of the aisle to a white alter that was garnished with summer blossoms and honey suckle. She gracefully threw the flowers as she went, smiling at everyone oohing and ahhing at how precious she was as she found her seat next to her mother in the front.
Next, Charlie and Fleur's best friend slowly made their way down the aisle together, and took their places next to the alter. Then, Fred and one of Fleur's cousins followed at the same pace, Fred beaming to have such a gorgeous woman on his arm. After them came George and Tonks. And then Ron and Hermione. Ron held out his arm to Hermione and she placed her fingers on the crook of his elbow. He took her hand and pressed her fingers tighter against his arm, smiling at her. They made their way slowly down the aisle. Hermione found herself wishing that she had switched places with Fleur and Ron with Bill and that it was really they who would be exchanging vows. She silently scolded herself. Don't be so stupid, Hermione. You're acting like some drooling school girl. The reached the alter and reluctantly pulled away from each other, taking their places.
Finally, only Harry and Ginny were left. Harry stepped closer to her, and offered his arm, allowing himself this one last moment of intimacy, if you could call it that, before he left. He smiled down at her and she gave him a small hopeful smile back. They stepped out onto the white silk, Harry staring straight ahead, trying not the notice the people staring at him and whispering behind their hands. He felt Ginny reassuringly squeeze his arm. He smiled at her again, wishing more than anything that he could just be normal. That Voldemort had never harmed anyone and that he didn't have to say goodbye to this beautiful girl. This girl he loved.
They finally reached the alter, also hesitant to leave the other's side, but they took their places and looked back towards the house where Bill and Fleur were coming through the doors, broad grins on their faces.
Ron had only ever been to one wedding in his life, when he was six. Some distant cousin had invited the Weasley's and all he remembered was that the couple talked a lot. And he had no interest in listening or paying attention, especially with Hermione standing a mere 10 feet away from him.
Hermione, always interested to learn new things paid careful attention to the ceremony. Bill and Fleur walked up and turned to each other, they each said their vows which Hermione noted while they were very different from muggle wedding vows, they shared the same basic ideas. Buckbeak was then lead to the couple down the aisle by Hagrid with the wedding bands, a familiar sight to Hermione. After the rings were put on, the couple took out their wands and performed a spell which bound their wands to each other. And then it was done. Hermione smiled at the couple as they kissed, and looked across the way at Ron who was looking at her. She smiled at him and he smiled back, this time with out blushing.
Though Harry was quite curious as to how a wizarding wedding would be done, having never been to a wedding wizarding or otherwise, he simply could not force himself to pay attention. He felt so sad that he would be leaving tomorrow and that this would be something he would never get to experience. He glanced over at Ginny and became even sadder. He imagined that he would have some day liked to have proposed to Ginny and done this for himself. He guessed that was impossible now….
Ginny resisted the urge to dash over to Harry and hug him and kiss him and bring a smile back to his face. It hurt her to see him looking so depressed and she desperately wanted to help him. Her brother kissed his newly wedded wife and she felt a twang of guilt having not paid any attention to his brother's marriage. She sighed as Bill and Fleur led the way to the area of the garden where tables and a dance floor had been set up for the couple's reception. She followed the crowd as they relocated, some lining up to congratulate the new couple, while others grabbed tables, waiting to give the couple their best regards.
She sat down next to Hermione at the table she shared with Harry and Ron. The four sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the music and sipping on the butter beer Ron had gotten for them.
Ron played with the bottle in his hands, staring down at the table, butterflies fluttering like mad in his stomach at the very thought of what he was about to do. You've got to do it. He reminded himself. You remember what Harry said. It's now or never, and it can't be never. This has got to be done.
He stood up, stumbling a little and going red. He cleared his throat. Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all looked up at him. He ignored the other two and stared down at Hermione. " Hermione, would you join me in the kitchen for a moment?"