Ginny's Take

The Burrow

Day of the Wedding

After-Wedding Reception

I smiled as I saw my brother, Percy, probably the happiest I had ever seen him. Perce had reconciled with our family during the war, and had been through some pretty traumatic stuff since, just like the rest of us. Needless to say, it was more than a little awkward at first, but gradually, everyone re-acquainted themselves with the Percy we all knew and (mostly) loved. Sure, he was still uptight and dreadfully stringent, but with Penny's help he had gradually loosened up, becoming a tad more identifiable as a brother to the rest of us. He was no Fred and George - or even a Bill, or Charlie, and certainly not Ron - but he had become easier to associate with lately - more like a person that some of us might even hang out with were he not our brother. Perce and Penelope looked happier than I had ever seen either of them, and I felt a wave of bliss wash over me. While the war had ended scant months ago, at times like this, it seemed like years - another life, another age.

I sneaked a glance at Harry, who was conversing with a nervous-looking Ron, then straightened out my dress aimlessly again. Harry, like a prat, had 'nobly' broken up with me all those years ago, but it had been pointless. Every time I saw him during the war - after his years of Horcrux-hunting, that is - he seemed either unable to look at me or unable to keep his eyes off me, and it didn't take a genius - or even an idiot - to figure out that Harry was obviously still in love with me. It gave me a kind of security, I suppose, but more than that, it made me angry that he had wasted all this time. Stolen kisses in between battles, moments of quiet in between months of hell - all that would have been enough for me. And him, probably. That was never why he broke up with me after all. I had hoped that after he saw that I was clearly going to be in danger anyway - and that Voldemort would know his feelings for me regardless of whether we were officially dating, thanks to Snape. He did - but he still felt tremendously guilty for making me go through the heartbreak, and seemed unable to restart any kind of liasion in good conscience. I left the subject alone until the war ended (for the most part, that is), but soon after, I started the SSHA campaign - the campaign to Start Snogging Harry Again! So far unsuccessful, but I knew I wouldn't have gotten that far by now anyway, so most of the time, I've just been sending a veritable avalanche of romantic hints his way, regardless of whether there were people there or not (much to Ron's and my other brothers' vexation).

But by God as my witness, if he doesn't at the very, bare, minimum ask me to dance a bloody good number of times again, he is going to be in a damned spot of trouble.

Ron's Take

Why did I do it? Why did I do it? This thought kept running through my head, as if on a tape loop. Why did I do it? I had essentially forced Hermione to take a few dances with me - out of selfishness! Who knows if she even likes me? Harry says she does, and so does Ginny...and I guess Bill, and Charlie, and Mom...and Seamus, and Dean...but that doesn't mean that they're right! Does it?

Bloody hell.

"Harry," I said in a pained, near-conspiratorial whisper.

Harry raised his eyebrows at me. "Why are you whispering?" he said in a conversational tone at perfectly normal volume.

I opened my mouth, but searching for words, only managed to make an incomprehensible kind of sound.

"Sorry?"

"Shut up," I snapped at normal volume. "She's driving me mad, Harry!"

"Who? Alright, alright," Harry relented as I looked at him in a way that evoked the phrase, 'if looks could kill'..."Let's go through this logically. You love Hermione."

I hesitated, but went ahead. "Yes."

"Hermione loves you."

I wasn't about to say this so easily. "It's...possible."

Harry snorted. "I'd say probable. Are you willing to at least admit that it's very likely Hermione has romantic interest in you, then?"

"It's...likely," I said, feeling an embarrassingly strong elation rise up in my chest.

"And she's driving you ballistic."

"Completely."

"Because..."

"I love her."

"Now Ron," Harry said, coming to his grand conclusion. "What do you think could possibly rectify your mental anxiety?"

"I suppose I could...ask her to dance."

"That's a start," he said encouragingly. "And since you've already procured the promise of a few dances, you may as well go ahead now. The band's just started."

And indeed they had. For some reason, though, I still felt incredibly shy and nervous. "But won't I seem...I don't know, eager if I go on the first song?"

"Eager? Don't you want to seem eager? Isn't that the point?"

"Well...I suppose so," I conceded. "It's just, I'm a little nervous. Very nervous actually. Perhaps I should just wait -"

"No," Harry said firmly, clapping me on the back and propelling me in Hermione's direction. "Otherwise you're a coward. Percy and Penelope are done their dance, everybody's on the floor - go!"

I gave Harry one last comment. "Why don't you get a dance with your girl, Harry?" I shot a meaningful glance at Ginny. Hopefully Harry knew precisely how much this was straining my overprotective 'big brother' attributes, and so would therefore get a bloody move on and ask her for a dance. He did, as his face got more serious than it was before, and nodded. We both stared at each other for a moment, but then split up, me to Hermione, who was daintily drinking some punch, and him to my sister, who was currently conversing with a jovial Charlie.

I reached Hermione.

"Er...Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"I don't suppose that you would like a dance now?"

"I suppose," Hermione teased. "That that wouldn't be all that bad."

She set aside her now empty cup and we made our way to the edge of the dance floor. I nervously, tentatively put my arm around her waist (recalling a similar situation when I had asked her to dance at Bill and Fleur's wedding a few years ago) and she placed her hand on my shoulder. Then we danced. It wasn't slow, although not super-fast, and certainly manageable, since Mom had managed to teach most of us some elementary dancing steps. Hermione, though, had evidently not gone through my Mom's tutoring, but was keeping up admirably, until she stumbled slightly. My grip tightened and my hand moved towards the small of her back, pulling her a little closer as I steadied her and continued to move around the dance floor. It still slightly amazed me these days how much bigger I was than her, since I towered more than foot over her.

"Thanks," she said breathlessly as she got totally steadied. I felt slightly nervous, wondering if I should let her go back to the longer range we were previously at, but to be honest, I was enjoying myself far too much to be so inclined.

"No problem," I replied cheekily. "We'll just pretend we were doing a dip if anyone asks."

Hermione giggled. "I didn't know you could dance this well."

"I've danced with you before."

"I know, it's just this dance is a little more complex than the ones we've done previously."

I shrugged as much as I could with my hand in hers and the other on her back. "Thank my mother."

I looked around as we went around the dance floor, feeling slightly light-headed. With a scowl, I noticed that at least half of the people here were staring unabashedly at us.

"What's wrong?" Hermione said. She seemed almost worried.

"Nothing. We seem to have some observers, is all."

Hermione glanced around with difficulty, as I was obscuring the greater part of her vision. After a minute, she looked back up at me. "That's true. Do you mind?"

I shrugged again. "Not really. I'm used to people staring at me by now." I noticed with pleasure that Hermione seemed to flush a bit.

Both of our feet stopped automatically as the music halted for a moment, the song over. "Well, Ron, that's one dance down."

I grinned as the music started up again, and spontaneously driven on by an inexplicable feeling inside me, did something I'm sure most people would never think I would do - including yours truly. "Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"I don't suppose that you would like another dance, would you?" My mind teetered in agony, my emotions on the brink of happiness and heartbreak. Of course, I was putting a bit too much weight on one dance, but that's just the way I am.

Luckily, I had no need to worry. Seeming truly happy, Hermione smiled radiantly back at me. "Yes."

I barely saw Harry smirk as we went around again, enjoying dancing with Hermione.