The Cost of Friendship
Chapter Eight
The Wedding
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"Ouch Ginny, watch where your sticking that wand!" Ron said angrily.
"I was just cleaning a spot of your pants." Ginny protested.
"Yeah, but I'm not walking down the isle with a wand up my bum." Ron said.
The big day had finally come and everything was as crazy as you would expect it to be. Hermione was already at the church with her mum getting ready. Ginny, who was the only one dressed and ready to go, was sent back to Hermione's apartment where Harry and Ron were getting dressed. Harry was still sporting a Cannon's t-shirt with his dress pants and bare feet. Ron on the other hand was having trouble remembering how to get dressed at all. He put the wrong leg into his pants so many times that Harry had to push him onto the couch and pull on his pants for him a task that he never thought he'd have to do.
"Ron, would you please stop shaking I can't tie your shoes." Harry said as he sat on the floor in front of Ron.
"Sorry mate, I don't know what's wrong with me." Ron said nervously.
Ginny who looked amazing in her maroon gown curly hair, was pulling Ron's under shirt onto his arms and picking lint off his pants with her wand. After a few failed attempts she was finally able to button Ron's shirt and put on his bow tie, leaving only the robes to manage. Ginny went to the bathroom to check her reflection in case anything shifted while dressing Ron, then quickly emerged and pulled Harry out of ear shot of Ron.
"Listen Harry, you need to finish getting him dressed then dress yourself. I need you both at the church in twenty minutes." Ginny said as she watched Ron from the corner of her eye, he was tucking in his shirt with great difficulty. "Hermione is as much of a wreck as he is, I need to get back to her."
"Alright, but can I tell you something?" Harry asked.
"Yes, quickly."
Harry leaned down and kissed Ginny on the lips. "You look amazing."
Ginny blushed slightly and smiled back, "Thank you Harry, now hurry up!"
With a loud cracking sound Ginny vanished on the spot. Harry hurried over to Ron and held up his robes for him to put his arms in the sleeves. After Ron missed the holes twice he finally got it and stood still as Harry buttoned up the front. Once Harry was done, Ron sat down on a stool at the kitchen counter and put his head in his hands. Harry picked up his dress robes and started to dress himself.
"So tell me, why are you so nervous?" Harry said as he pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it on the couch.
Ron turned around to face Harry, sweat pouring down his face. "I can't do this, I can't marry Hermione."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not good enough for her!" Ron said as he shot up from his stool and started to pace the floor. "She's this beautiful, intelligent, powerful woman and I'm nothing."
Harry was trying not to laugh as he walked over to the still pacing Ron and put a hand on his shoulder to make him stop walking. "Ron, you just have cold feet, it's normal to be nervous."
Ron spun around so fast it looked as if his head could have flipped off. He put a hand on each of Harry's arms and shook Harry rather violently. His eyes were huge as he said, "NO, you don't understand! What if I get up there and she says no? What if I trip and make a fool out of myself in front of our friends and family? What if she takes one look at me, laughs then runs away?"
"Ron, clam down your going to have a heart attack. Let's just take it once step at a time. Hermione is not going to say no, she's not going to run away and if you make a fool out of yourself at least you will have a funny story to tell your kids." Harry said trying to lighten the mood.
Ron threw his hands in the air out of aggravation and sat back down on the stool. "Just get dressed Harry, your not helping me any."
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Meanwhile over at the church, Hermione wasn't doing much better. Ginny had arrived to find Hermione in tears and mascara pouring down her face. Ginny was grateful she hadn't put her dress on yet because her t-shirt had black smudges on it now. Ginny found a box of tissues and started to clean Hermione's face. Ginny couldn't help but wonder if she was the only sane person left in the world as tried to make Hermione stop crying.
"You need to calm down Hermione, look at your makeup it has to be completely redone now." Ginny said.
A set of quick paced footsteps could be heard coming down the hallway. The room Hermione was in was just down the way from the main worship hall where the wedding guests were already arriving. It was a rather plan room that contained a single mirror and a few chairs, but it was large and echoed badly. The footsteps got closer and Ginny turned just in time to see Hermione's mother walking in the door. Ginny got up and greeted her.
"Hello Mrs. Granger, can you please help me calm her down. We need to get her dressed." Ginny said more frantically than she intended.
Mrs. Granger just smiled and walked over to a still crying Hermione and knelt down in front of her. She put a hand on Hermione's knee and smiled at her. "Hun, I know your nervous but I just want you to know that we like him and we think he is the right person for you. And I know that your not thrilled about this church and I think it's wonderful of you to try to make me happy. And I am, I couldn't be happier for you, everything is going to be perfect."
Hermione wiped away her tears and smiled at her mum. "Thank you, I needed to hear that."
Hermione appeared to have pulled herself together because she stood up and started washing her face with the box of tissues sitting on the floor. Her mum smiled and stood up, "Well if your good I'll just go back and sit down, I'll see you in a bit my dear."
Hermione gave her mum a hug then went back to cleaning her face. Ginny rushed over, pulling out her wand as she did so. "Here let me help, you will never get it off that way."
Ginny pointed her wand directly at Hermione's face and instantly the make up was gone and Hermione looked fresh and new. Hermione picked up a small make up bag and got to work fixing herself back up. Ginny watched her for a moment until she heard more footsteps outside in the hallway. She walked over to the door and opened it. To her shock, Harry was standing outside about ready to knock on the door. Harry had a huge smile on his face at the sight of Ginny.
"Harry, I thought it was Hermione's mum, you surprised me."
"Hey Ginny, I did it…I got Ron here. He is at the alter and waiting on Hermione." Harry said brightly.
"Ok, Hermione will be ready in a few minutes. You better get up there to and make Ron stay put." Ginny said.
Ginny was about to shut the door again when Harry put his hand out to stop her. "Ginny, you look amazingly beautiful."
"Thank you Harry, the second time you have said that." Ginny said, giving Harry a odd expression.
Harry leaned in closer to Ginny and said softly, "I can't help it, you look amazing in that dress."
Ginny was still eying Harry suspiciously. "Thank you, you look great too. I need to go now, you better get back up to Ron." She slowly closed the door while watching Harry through the crack until he was out of view. "He's up to something, I can feel it." Ginny said quietly to herself as she crossed the room to meet Hermione who was stepping into her dress.
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The church mite not have been the biggest or the prettiest thing ever built but Ginny and Mrs. Weasley did everything they could to make it presentable. The center isle was lovely with a deep red carpet running down the center. Elegant gold silk was hanging loosely from each pew and attached with red rosettes. Though no magic was allowed in this muggle church, the presence of so many witches and wizards gave the room a radiating feel. The room was packed full and many people were forced to stand in the back of the church. All eyes were on Ron at the moment, who was talking to Harry standing next to him.
A young man was sitting in the corner behind Ron, he was playing a guitar softly. Until suddenly the large double doors opened in the back of the church and all eyes turned in that direction. The music changed and became louder as Ginny, in her beautiful red gown and robes holding a bouquet of daisies came walking gracefully down the isle. Harry wasn't the only one staring at her intently as she made her way up to the front. She was greeted by Harry who handed her Ron's ring so she could later give it to Hermione.
The moment that Ginny and Harry were back in there respected places a familiar song rang through the hall, the wedding march had started. The entire room stood and turned as Hermione walked into the room. Her white gown was breath taking. A halter top with a large bell shaped bottom cascading elegantly to the ground where it barely brushed the carpet. In her hands was the largest bouquet of crimson roses ever made. Wrapped tightly around the flowers and flowing almost to the floor was a silk red ribbon that matched Ginny's gown. Hermione was practically glowing, her ear-to-ear smile fit perfectly with her spiraled hair and soft makeup.
Hermione was savoring every moment as she slowly made her way down the isle, eyes transfixed on Ron the whole way. Her smile grew with every step she got closer to him, Ron was doing the same. The whole room seemed to be holding their breath until she finally reached the front and stopped to face the minister. Ron took a step over to be by her side. Both of them were shaking out of nerves and complete happiness. All the months of stress and planning. All the hardships they had been though in the past few years vanished. All that mattered at this moment was them and this wedding.
The minister was talking but he was just a distant sound, for nothing else mattered until it was their turn to talk. Ron's vows were first, he repeated the words he was told then turned to get Hermione's ring from Harry. Hermione lifted her shaking hand and held her breath as Ron slipped the most beautiful golden ring onto her finger. She smiled and admired it for a moment until it was her turn to pay attention and repeat as told. Ginny practically jumped forward when she handed Hermione, Ron's ring and took her bouquet. Just as before Ron held up his shaking hand and Hermione smiled as she put it on his finger.
They turned their attention back to the minister who spouted off some more words that they weren't listening to. A few moments later they said their "I do's" and were pronounced married. Ron wrapped his arms around Hermione, dipped her and made quite a spectacle out of their first kiss. Everyone stood and cheered as Ron lifted Hermione back up and she hid her blushing face in Ron's chest. They rushed down the isle hand-in-hand, Ginny and Harry following close behind.
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Even though it was late winter, much to everyone's delight, it was a semi-warm day. As guests arrived at the burrow they were able to open up the back yard so everyone wasn't cramped inside. Most of the downstairs furniture had been moved upstairs and the living room had been magically expanded so several small round tables could be placed for dinner. Various members of the Weasley family were now sitting happily at the tables, watching a few Granger's and many friends coming in the front door. It was a small group of people, but happy.
Everyone was seated happily for a few moments, talking and laughing. Then Harry, who was sitting at the head table with the parents and Ginny stood up. He pointed everyone's attention to the rickety old staircase across the room then said, "Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Weasley."
Hermione and Ron came walking awkwardly down the stairs. Hermione was still in her gown but Ron had lost his outer robes. The room clapped for them as they came in the room and made their way to the head table. Ron said a quick thank you to everyone then pulled out a chair for Hermione to sit down, then sat down himself. Thanks to Mrs. Wesley's excellent work food was spread out on each table, a feast of English favorites.
After everyone ate the tables were cleared and pushed back opening up a small area in the middle of the room. Once again, Harry was the first to stand. He walked to the center of the room and waved his arms around the room to dim the candles on the tables. He waved his wand again and a small platform was raised just in front of the window. Moments later a band magically appeared on the small stage and people started to whisper around the room.
"I have a bit of a surprise for everyone. It seems that the band that was hired for this evening backed out. Ron came to me a few days ago and begged for my help but I'd like to apologize that I couldn't get you a better band." Everyone was squinting through the darkness to see who it was but Harry was standing in the way. "The best I could do was, The Wired Sisters!" Harry said happily as a magic spotlight lit up the band and they instantly started to play a rather upbeat song. The room cheered and people started to stand up and dance.
The rest of the night was spent signing and dancing. Several rounds of toasts were made and quite a bit of alcohol was consumed. It was the perfect night, everyone was happy and not a single thing went wrong. It couldn't have gone any smoother. After several hours the room began to thin as people headed home. Ron and Hermione hugged everyone in turn and then left for their apartment so they could pack and leave for their Honeymoon in the morning. Harry and Ginny stuck around to help Mrs. Weasley and the twins clean up. All in all it was the perfect wedding, and most importantly Ron and Hermione were finally complete.
A/N: I know this chapter is a bit long but I hope its not to boring, I started writing this about an hour ago and I just couldn't stop. Harry was going to so something "big" in this chapter but I think that will have to wait. This story sould have a few more chapters before it's all over. Anywho...happy reading!
Silverwilver