Disclaimer; I own nothing.

A/N The chapter after this one is the last one so I hope you enjoy it. I don't have a sequel planned right now but you never know. Happy reading and don't forget to review!

Wedding Day Jitters

Saturday, September 19 was there before Hermione could even blink. She woke up early that morning. Well, wake up was a term she used loosely as she had not really slept that night. She looked at the clock and got out of bed. She showered as if it were a normal day and dried her hair with her wand pulling it straight for now. Ginny was going to do her hair when she got to the chapel. She went into the kitchen and ate a light breakfast. Her stomach felt like she was going to be sick. She went into her room and got dressed in casual clothes. She grabbed her wedding dress and other things and apperated to Hogsmeade's lovely chapel. They would be using the outdoor one for this wedding. She looked at the wedding area on her way in the building. It was absolutely beautiful. So full of roses she didn't think another rose would fit. Every color you could think of. She smiled her first smile of the day and made her way into the bride's dressing room. The room was large and filled with roses as well. A huge bouquet of white roses stood on the vanity table. A small note was attached.

Dearest Hermione,

Today is our wedding day. The day I have awaited for so long. I know we have been through a lot, and we may have a lot to overcome in the future, but as long as we are together we can overcome anything. I love you Hermione Jane Granger (Weasley). I can't wait to see you and become a family.

Love always,

Ron

Tears fell from Hermione's eyes as she read and reread the note. She sat on the vanity stool and stared at herself in the mirror. She hated herself right at that moment. She knew she should be excited about the wedding, but oddly enough she was feeling sad. Like the whole wedding was someone else's. And she was just there on the sidelines. For almost an hour she stared into that mirror trying to sort out her feelings before Mrs. Weasley and Ginny showed up.

"Oh dear you look worried." Molly said as she sat the handmade veil on the table.

"I'm fine Molly, just nerves I guess." Hermione said.

"Call me mum please." she said smiling and Hermione gave her a faint smile back.

"Let's get to your hair." Ginny said. She had already fixed her hair. It was upswept and piled into a bunch of curls with baby roses tucked in. She looked pretty and fresh as she grabbed her wand and begun to twirl individual strands of Hermione's hair into lots of curls as well. She used a freezing charm to keep it in place and then she carefully placed several small white roses adorned with sparkling glitter into the curls where the veil would go. Then with the utmost care she placed the tiara on top of her head. It too was covered in roses that were so fragrant Hermione could smell them from across the room. Molly carefully attached the veil to the back and Hermione looked into the mirror.

'This is it.' she thought. She applied some light makeup and perfume before standing up.

"How do I look?" Hermione said.

"Silly" Ginny replied pointing to Hermione's fancy hairdo and makeup that was paired with a t-shirt and jeans. Hermione giggled as she walked behind the dressing screen and slipped out of her casual things. Ginny handed Hermione her fancy undergarments and finally her dress which Ginny had to help Hermione button up the back.

"Geez, there are like 100 buttons on the back of this." she said wearily as she buttoned.

Hermione stepped out of the screen and Molly burst into tears.

"You look like an angel" Molly sighed. Hermione smiled as she spun in front of the full length mirror. The fitted satin bodice and tulle skirt that was adorned with diamonds sparkled in the sparse light of the room. It was nearly noon by the time Ginny and Molly got dressed. Hermione sat at the large window seat and looked outside. She could barely see the wedding site from there. People were beginning to gather. Just then Hermione's mum walked in the room.

"Sorry I am late dear, oh…I missed you getting ready." she said through teary eyes.

"It's okay mum, I know how hard it is for muggles like you to get to Hogsmeade." she said poking her mum on the arm. Her mum smiled at her.

"Are you nervous?" she whispered.

"No, I don't really feel anything. Is that normal?" Hermione asked wide-eyed.

"Yes, of course. I think it's better than being nervous. It means you have nothing to worry about." Her mum said. Hermione looked back out the window, she saw Ron's brothers showing people to their seats. It was nearly time. She stood up and put her shoes on. Ginny smiled at her and Molly and Hermione's mum were nearly in tears. Ginny handed Hermione her bouquet of white roses and gardenias and walked out of the door. Just outside the dressing room Hermione's dad was waiting.

"Hello kitten." he said playfully. Tears were welling in his eyes as well.

"See you outside" her mum and Molly both said as they walked out the door to take their seats.

"Daddy, I am worried." she said honestly so no one else could hear.

"What about?" he said pulling her back into the bridal room.

"I don't know if I am making a mistake." she said in between labored breaths. "I am in love with someone else as well." she blurted out.

"Hermione, it is normal to feel these things. You take the love you have for Ron and transfer it to someone else to avoid commitment. Who is it Harry?" he said smiling.

"Daddy, no!" she said. "It is someone from school."

"From St. Mungo's?" he asked.

"No, from Hogwarts. I dated him in seventh year and I saw him at the reunion and all these feelings came flooding out. I still love him and he loves me. I feel like I am just marrying Ron because everyone thinks I should." she said sobbing.

"There, there." he said as he rubbed her shoulder. "No one is pressuring you to marry Ron. If you don't want to marry him I will go out there and tell everyone the wedding is off." he said.

"You would do that?" she sniffed.

"Of course. I just want to see my little girl happy. Is that what you want me to do?"

"No, I love Ron. I just…" she sobbed again.

"You just needed some reassurance." he said. "Well ultimately it is your decision."

"I want to marry him." she said wiping her eyes.

"Alright. Go to the mirror and clean up your eyes and then we will go." he kissed her on the nose and left the room.

Hermione walked over to the mirror and took her wand out of her bridal bag. She waved it and the red marks and puffy eyes were gone. She sniffed one last time and then grabbed her bouquet heading for the door. Her father smiled at her and took her arm walking slowly towards the large set of double doors that led to the outdoor wedding chapel.

The aisle was decorated with roses and lace and there was an archway that led to the main aisle way. She walked slowly but steadily with her dad on her arm. The music started and everyone stood up to catch a glimpse of the blushing bride. Hermione smiled nervously as she walked, passing her friends and family and to her disgust Lavender Brown who was seated mid-way up. She looked distraught. Hermione put those thoughts of Ron cheating out of her mind. He had a logical explanation for everything he had done. Lavender booked their cruise. That was all. She caught a glimpse of Ron at the altar. He was wearing black dress robes with a white tie. He smiled at her, but she thought in the corner of her mind that she saw him smile behind her as well. In Lavender's direction.

'Stop it Hermione.' she thought. 'He loves you, he is not smiling at Lavender.'

She got to the altar and her dad kissed her on each cheek before handing her to Ron. The cleric smiled at the two of them before beginning to speak.

"Friends and family, we have come here in celebration of the joining together of Hermione and Ronald. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls has come out way through all the paths and belief and from many cultures. With each union more knowledge is gained and more wisdom is gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two who stand before us, we can hope to leave them with the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love life is nothing."

Those words hit Hermione like a ton of bricks. She did not know if she truly loved this man who stood before her. She started to panic.

"Without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to life, posterior to death, initial of creation and the exponent of the earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this."

Hermione looked around at the gathering of friends and family that were sitting behind her. Her mum and Molly were in tears again, her dad was smiling slightly at her. Arthur Weasley and all of Ron's brother's were beaming, and Ginny had a knowing look upon her face.

"Marriage is a bond to be entered into after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life it has it's cycles, its ups and its downs. Its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this Ronald and Hermione have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. Others may ask at this time who gives this bride in marriage. But, as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own free will and if she has her family's blessing. Hermione, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but closed it quickly. Ron looked at her then she spoke.

"Yes." so very quietly that she could barely be heard.

"With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you?" the cleric asked.

Hermione's dad and mum stood up.

"She comes with us, her father and mother and she accompanied by her family's blessings." he said.

"Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to which I am about to say."

Ron moved forward and took Hermione's hands in his own. She smiled slightly and looked around again.

"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones as time doth pass remember like a stone should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving of affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease for the gods are with you always. Ronald, I have not the right to bind thee to Hermione. Only you have this right. If it be your wish say so at this time and place your ring in her hand."

"It is my wish." Ron said firmly.

"Hermione I have not the right to bind thee to Ronald, only you have this right. If it be your wish say so at this time and place your ring in his hand."

Hermione looked around nervously her breath got stuck in her throat and she saw little stars in her eyes as she looked to the back of the chapel. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak.

"Are you okay Hermione?" Ron asked quietly.

She didn't say a word instead returning her gaze to the back of the bridal aisle where she could have sworn she saw a flash of platinum blond hair.