Disclaimer: There's no way their mine.

Chapter Twenty Three

What the Latin words means…

It was a good thing that Mrs. Weasley walked by when she did. Fred got an ear full and I was able to find my wand and mend the tear. By then it was time for Fred to make the final toast with George, who had to be pulled away from Katie with so much force.

"I heard Oliver's taking Angelina to Scotland for their honeymoon." Ginny said as she took a seat beside me. Harry was standing with Ron surrounded by a group of men, waiting for the final toast as well.

"That's lovely." I answered angling my head to watch the twins start their toast.

"Me and Harry decided to go to Romania." I turned then to look at her.

"Romania? Really? Why?" That question came out more surprised than I had anticipated.

"Just because there, Harry can avoid as much press as possible, any where else he'll get recognized." I nodded agreeing with her. Harry was still too famous for his own good and if anything he would never have the quiet life everyone else had.

"Where's that git taking you?" She asked shooting Fred a rude glare.

"I'm not sure…"

"Ladies and Gentlemen if we could have your attention please…" George interrupted my sentence as he stood on a chair raising his glass of wine. He looked over to the bride and groom's table.

"We've known Oliver for a long time. And yes for those of you that have been wondering we were in love for a short while." George carried on winking at Angelina, who laughed as Oliver scowled.

"Don't deny it Oliver you were crazy about George." Fred laughed as well. This got the crowd cheering causing Oliver to blush red and looking more annoyed, leave it those two to make matters worse.

"The couple you see before you now I, myself thought was the most unlikely to be put together, yet I believe that fate had a hand in dealing their cards and now you see before you the most in love pair, beside Katie and myself that is to say." George paused. "Fulfilling their destines, congratulations you two."

"Now Angelina it hurts that you won his heart, I'm willing to let him go if you promise me that I get signed into his will." George joked as he raised his glass.

"To Angelina and Oliver we wish you the best." As Fred toast his glass with George. "And loads of happiness." The crowd applauded as the twins bowed playfully. It was now Katie and Alicia's turn to give a speech, nothing as outrageous as Fred and George's but short and sweet.

The hall was getting less and less crowd as the night was pulling to an end. People were heading home now; Ginny was back in Harry's arms dancing. Ron was also twirling a laughing Lavender, George was trying to fed Katie some cake but, of course on purpose missed her mouth and got her right cheek, which then started a food fight between the two of them and my soon to be husband was no where in sight. Oh just perfect tomorrow was Luna's wedding and then it was mine. Just great, I was so glad that my parents were flying back tomorrow morning to be here. Why won't they? They're you parents after all.

I had been too busy to write, but I was sure to send little notes to assure them everything was well. I looked up to see professor Lupin and Tonks headed my way. My first instinct was to jump up and embrace them but then I remembered the spell and just waved smiling to them.

"Hermione, my dear why are you not dancing?" Professor Lupin asked staring down at me.

"The only one who I'm able to dance with is missing in action." I replied smiling at him warmly.

"He said the words out loud didn't he?" Tonks laughed. What words out loud?

"What's that?" I asked turning to Tonks now.

"Any kind of words to indicate that you belong to him." She continued to giggle.

"It'll wear off after the blood link." Professor Lupin answered.

"Please tell me what this blood link you keep talking about is? I need to know." I pleaded but there was a sad look on his tired face.

"I wish I could but, what's going on between you two, I can not interfere with. If he refuses to tell you then I have no say." He explained.

"But you told him to use the Latin words that he engraved on my chest." I retorted.

"Yes. I did but he knew that he was suppose to leave his mark on you, don't ask me I don't know how he knew. So he asked which word it was that could be used. And for you and you alone Hermione, since you and him are already connected soul to soul. That was the only one that he was allowed to use, anyone else it would be settles in during the blood link." It was strange that when I was looking at Angelina, hers didn't have the circle that mine had from the ring on Fred's necklace. It was specially done. We didn't have a blood link yet.

"So whatever word the male utters under his beneath during the blood link those words are shown in Latin onto the mate's skin and then it later appears somewhere else on the male's body." Tonks tried to clarify what professor Lupin was saying.

"Can you at least tell me what the words mean?" I asked shaking my head after all this information.

"It means Eternal." I covered my mouth to stop myself from screaming. Unbelievable of all the words that had to be on my skin, Eternal. I knew that this marriage was never going to be broken but did the word have to be so drastic. Like we were totally devoting ourselves to each other. This was so unreal. We weren't even friends and both of us had Eternal on our bodies. All because our souls were connected.

"Its full meaning will make sense once you and Fred begin to get along." Tonks smiled.

"Probably more likely when hell freezes over." I replied dryly.

"Of course." I heard professor Lupin chuckle. "Come my dear, shall we dance?" he asked Tonks who nodded waving to me as they left for the dance floor.

"See you at the wedding tomorrow, don't forget we have to stay for the whole thing, Luna says that it starts at eight." Ginny came to say her good byes.

"Good night Hermione. I'll see you tomorrow as well." Harry was now beside Ginny.

"Can you take me with you?" I asked pouting at them.

"No, Fred said that he wants to take you home, so we can't." Ginny shook her head laughing.

"I don't care if he wants to dance with the devil in the pale moon light. I'll go home when I want to go home." I answered which got Harry laughing and Ginny laughing harder.

"I've asked him to dance a couple of times but, he always declines my invitation." The low tone came our way. Harry and Ginny ceased their laughing grasping their stomachs as they did so.

"Maybe he's got better things to do." I snarled turning to face him. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw that Harry and Ginny were quietly taking their leave.

"Yeah, like causing people to sin." He grinned. "Would my lovely fiancée care to dance?" He asked holding out his hand.

"If I refuse?" I tried.

"I didn't think that you would but if you are insisting to let me reassure that the consequences are dire." He said in a calm voice.

"Please that's getting old." I waved a hand careless at him.

"HERMIONE, WE CAN'T SHAG IN THE COAT CLOSET…" He yelled as I called his bluff. At that I jumped up covering his mouth with my hand. He grabbed hold of that hand and kissed it as I felt my face blushing and most of the people staring at us, Angelina and Oliver included.

"You idiot, that was uncalled for." I glared at him with hatred.

"I warned you." He answered still smirking. Some of the people dancing beside us stared curiously. "You look good when you're all flushed like that." He whispered in my ears sending that once again shivering feeling down my spine.

"Shut it pervert." I spun as he twirled me, and fell slightly back as he dipped me. Then I was pulled back into his embrace.

"I miss your smell." He said suddenly as he inhaled my scent. "Did anybody tell you yet that you look so drop dead gorgeous?"

"Loads." I lied. He nodded and that was the rest of our conversation until I remembered the dress.

"You got some nerve buying what was rightfully mine to buy." I snarled accusingly at him.

"Of course you out of all people would take something as simple as this and turn it into something insulting." His sudden calm face was darkening now.

"You had no right to do it." I replied pulling away from him.

"When it comes to you Hermione, I think I have every right." What the hell kind of answer was that? This only enraged me more. I tugged at him to release my hand but it was a death grip. "This wasn't anything; I already said I'd pay for the wedding."

"I told you that my father was paying for half." I was ready to go into a shouting match with him.

"Not everything is going to be your way Hermione." Then the music stopped and we stood there staring at each other.

"Why is it so hard for you to get in your thick skull that you can't…?" He interrupted me with a kiss. It was anything but sweet. It was long and very aggressive. I tried to pull away. Then his hands cupped my cheeks and he pressed his nose to mine.

"It was just a dress." And he left me staring at his tall frame disappearing off the dance floor. He was right. I don't know why I was so worked up about it. It was just probably because I needed an excuse to argue with him. Maybe it would have seemed weird if we didn't argue.

When I arrived back our flat, it was pitch black meaning that Fred was still out partying with his friends and probably wouldn't be home until early that next morning. I switched on the lights and headed towards my room. As I was stripping off the dress, I saw the letters on my chest glow. The reminder of his mark.

I woke later than I had planned to and rushed into the bathroom. There was no way I was going to arrive late to a Malfoy's wedding, even if it meant Luna was my friend. Those pureblood already frowned upon the likes of a mudblood and there was no way I let them think any worse of me than their arrogant society already thought. I finished getting dressed and wanted to see if Fred had arrived home yet. Maybe I could convince him to come with me after all. I spotted the contract on the coffee table as I quickly passed it. I would have to talk to him about that too. I knocked lightly then gently pushed the door opened.

"Fred…I…" What the bloody hell? There were two people in the bed. The redhead I recognized. Who was attached to the blonde hair? I swung the door opened wider and screamed.