Chapter 22

Now, a little more than a week passed after the Valentines Ball, and although Violet did not want it, Draco was constantly on her mind, and no matter what she did, she could not stop thinking about him. Late that night, after a lot of studying (mostly because Hermione had pushed them to), they decided that it was time for them to all get to sleep. Ron and Violet said good night to each other when they got to the stairs that separated the boys' and girls' dorms, but Harry and Hermione stayed back a moment to talk a bit. Ron just quickly said good bye to Harry and Hermione and then continued up the stairs because the both of them together just was strange to him. He needed more time to get used to the fact that his best friends for the past five years were a couple now. Violet stayed back and waited for Hermione because she wanted ask her all about how she and Harry had gotten together because she was genuinely curious and she really wanted to get her mind off of Draco and Ron.

Harry kissed Hermione softly and then said shyly, "I'll see you tomorrow..."

"Yeah...Good night, Harry." Hermione said, just as shy as Harry.

"Good night, Hermione." Harry said, giving her one last hug and then walking up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.

As both Violet and Hermione walked up to their dorm, Violet said, "Okay, it's time to spill the goods. I want to know exactly what happened at the Ball! Especially after you guys actually forgot to come up to sleep, it had to be pretty exciting."

When they got into their dorm, they both sat down on Violet's bed. Hermione felt like a gossipy girl at a sleep over, but she just couldn't resist. She just had to tell someone about it.

"Well, at first I wasn't sure why Harry asked me to the Ball. I thought it could be because he wanted to make sure he got a date so he didn't look stupid or maybe so he didn't have to end up asking some girl he didn't know well. But then I talked to Ron, and he told me that Harry fancied me too! So then I was just nervous about the whole thing because I didn't want to do something wrong." Hermione said.

"I knew you guys liked each other for the longest time myself. You two were so obvious, I'm surprised that neither of you saw it in each other." replied Violet.

Hermione smiled and said, "Yeah...but at least everything turned out nicely. I was so afraid that Harry wouldn't feel the same way and then things would be awkward between us forever after that."

"Yeah..." Violet replied, "Well, then what happened at the Ball?"

"So, Harry and I danced a while, but then we decided to take a break. We both decided to go out side to get some fresh air since it felt so hot inside. It was really nice outside...really romantic. Complete with the starlit night and everything! Harry and I talked a bit, but we just didn't know what to say to each other since we were both pretty scared of doing something wrong."

"Wow...what happened next?" Violet said, totally wrapped up in Hermione's recount.

"Well, Harry told me that I looked pretty and then he hugged me. Then we pulled away a little bit and we just looked at each other. For the longest time, neither of us did anything. I didn't do anything because I was sure that Harry would do something, but maybe Harry was assuming the same thing about me. But after a while, Harry seemed like he would kiss me, but he kinda stopped half way."

"Really?!" Violet said.

"But since he was so close anyway, I decided that I'd just finish what he started." Hermione said, smiling.

"Wow, how cool!" Violet said.

"Yeah...but enough about me! I've been so wrapped up with Harry these last few days that I didn't even ask you how your date with Ron was at the Ball!" Hermione said.

This brought Violet's mind back to what she was trying so desperately to avoid: her dilemma with Ron and Draco.

"It was fine." Violet said.

"That's it? Fine?" Hermione said curiously.

Violet knew that she couldn't tell Hermione the whole story because she knew Hermione would completely hate her if she found out that she was involved with Draco too.

"Yeah..." Violet, unsure of what to tell Hermione.

But Hermione didn't beat around the bush at all.

"I just want to know...are you and Ron a couple?" Hermione asked.

"Uhhh...I wouldn't say that exactly..." Violet answered, her conflicting feelings for Draco surfacing.

But Draco is lying, cheating, scum! Look at the rest of his family!! How could he be any different from them!?! Violet thought, trying desperately to make her feelings for him go away.

"Look, Violet...is there someone else, anyone else that you fancy as well?" Hermione said.

"No, there really isn't –" Violet started saying.

"If there is, you're just really not being fair to Ron. You have to figure out with who your heart truly lies, and go with it." Hermione said, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be fair to yourself either."

"That would be true..." Violet answered cryptically.

"Well...the only reason I brought this up at all was because of something that Ron and Harry told me." said Hermione.

"Oh?" Violet said, afraid of what Ron might have found in the letter and told Hermione.

"I don't really believe in getting involved though, because I just know that just never helps the situation. But all I'm saying is that leaving two guys waiting isn't fair to either of them." replied Hermione.

"Hey, Hermione...how do you know who's the right guy?" Violet asked cautiously, hoping that Hermione wouldn't ask who the other guy was.

Luckily, she didn't.

"Well, in a way, you just know. I mean, when you're with him, you don't think about anyone else." said Hermione, "A similar thing actually happened to me. This guy named Viktor Krum actually had a crush on me. I went with him to our Yule Ball last year."

"Viktor Krum?! The Bulgarian Seeker?!? No way!" Violet said in surprise.

"Yeah..." Hermione said with a little smile, "But every time I was with Viktor, I just couldn't stop thinking about Harry...and so I chose Harry. Even if I didn't know at the time if Harry would ever feel the same way, it was the right thing to do because what's the use in being with someone and wishing it was someone else the whole time?"

"You're right." Violet replied.

"Well, I think that we should both get to bed now. We have a long day ahead with Double Potions tomorrow." said Hermione.

"Yeah...good night, Hermione." Violet said reflectively.

"Good night, Violet." Hermione replied.

They both got into their beds and went to sleep.

Violet blinked and found herself in a room. She realized she was in her bedroom in her parents house.

What am I doing here? Violet thought.

Suddenly there was a knock at her door that startled her. She looked to the door and saw Lydia walk into the room.

How could she be here?! She doesn't even live anywhere near me! Violet thought in surprise.

"I can't believe that you're sleeping in on your wedding day! But then again, this is you. Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not all that surprised..." Lydia said with a smile.

My wedding day?!? Violet thought in confusion, Since when was I getting married?!?

"Come on! Get up!! We have to go to get you changed and ready!" Lydia said while pulling Violet out of her bed.

Lydia then pulled Violet out of her house and Violet saw that a car was waiting for them outside. After getting in and driving a while, they both arrived at what appeared to be a wedding chapel. When the car stopped, Lydia dragged Violet to a back room of the chapel which appeared to be a dressing room.

"Hey, you start getting ready. I'm going to tell everyone that I finally dragged you out of bed and got you here." Lydia said, leaving Violet alone in the room.

Violet then took this opportunity to look around the room. She saw a stand holding up a beautiful wedding gown and veil.

Wow...that's really pretty...Maybe I can try it on...it is my wedding after all...Violet thought, putting on the wedding gown and the veil.

When everything was on, she looked at herself in the mirror.

This is everything I've wanted in a wedding dress...I look really good! Violet thought, smiling and admiring her reflection.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. When Violet said it was okay to come in, they did. She saw it was Ginny.

"Hey, Ginny."Violet said.

"Hi. I only wanted to wish you good luck before the wedding. I think you made an excellent choice. You and Ron will be really happy together." Ginny said, smiling, "Well, I'll not bother you anymore. I'll see you after the wedding!"

Violet was so shocked by what she just heard, she could not even reply to anything Ginny had just said.

I'm marrying Ron?! I totally forgot that a marriage isn't only wearing a pretty wedding dress! It actually involves marrying someone too! Violet thought, getting anxious.

But she wasn't given the chance to dwell on it any further since once again a person came to her door. This time they didn't even bother to knock. They just burst right in. Violet saw that it was Draco.

"Draco?!"Violet said in shock.

"Look, Violet, I know that you told me to stay away from you, but you can't go through with this, you can't!!" Draco said to her desperately while taking her hands, "Please...don't do this to me...I'd be nothing without you..."

"But, Draco, I –"Violet started saying.

But Violet was cut off by the sound of people coming down the corridor.

"I've got to get out of here! But, please don't do this!" Draco said, giving her one last pleading look as he ran out the door.

Violet just watched him go, and seconds after he left, Hermione and Lydia came in.

"Let's go! Everyone's waiting for you now." Lydia said, pulling Violet by the arm out of the room.

When she stepped outside of the room, she began to hear a piano playing the wedding march.

This can't really be happening, could it? Violet thought in disbelief.

Finally, she got up to the main room of the chapel and saw her dad waiting to give her away at the end of the aisle. She looked up to the front of the aisle and saw Harry, Arian, and Ron on the groom's side and Hermione and Lydia hurried up to join Ginny on her side.

Oh, god, this really is happening! Violet thought frantically.

Violet let her dad lead her up to the front of the aisle. As she walked up, she looked around at the people in the pews. She saw Ron's family and her own all dressed up and smiling with joy. But one unhappy face caught her attention. It was Draco. When she got closer, she realized that there were tears streaming down his face, which brought tears to her own eyes. Soon, before she even knew it, she was in front of the altar where the reverend was waiting for her.

"Dearly Beloved. We are gathered here today to join Ron Weasely and Violet Black in holy matrimony. If anyone here opposes this union, speak now, or forever hold your peace." said the reverend.

I need to say something! I can't let this happen! I'm not ready!! I can't do this! Violet thought.

Glancing back at Draco's heartbroken, tear stained face just strengthened her resolve.

"Since no one objects, I will proceed with the vows." the reverend said, "Do you, Violet –"

"Wait!! No, I object!!" Violet said.

Upon hearing this, the crowd gasped.

Hermione looked at her watch and realized that they were already late for the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Quidditch game that was to take place today. Hermione shook Violet to wake her up. Everyone else had already left the room and they were the only ones left there.

"Violet, wake up!! You're already late!!" Hermione said.

"I object, I object!!" Violet mumbled.

"No, you can't object!! You have to wake up!!" Hermione said while shaking her more.

"Wha –?" Violet mumbled as she slowly woke up.

As Violet got up, she realized she really did have some tears on her face.

"You're late for the Quidditch game!! Everyone already left!!" Hermione said urgently, not really noticing that Violet seemed to be crying.

"Oh, crap!" Violet said, throwing off her covers and running to get changed.

"I'm going straight to the stands! See you after the game!" Hermione said, running out of the dorm.

Violet rushed into the prep room, to find the whole Quidditch team was waiting for her to arrive.

"Wow, took you long enough!" Ron said in a teasing tone.

Violet just gave him a half hearted smile and took a seat next to him. She didn't know exactly what to say to him due to the nature of the dream she just had. Then Katie addressed the whole group.

"Well, this game shouldn't be much of a challenge since we've seen Hufflepuff play before. The only reason they won when we played them last was through a...technicality...so I think we should have one up on them now." Katie said, glancing at Harry when mentioning the technicality, "The only thing they have up their sleeve is a change in their seeker, so that is one thing we'll have to watch out for."

This brought Harry's mind sharply back to his memories of Cedric's death. How Cedric was struck down senselessly by a Death Eater just when he'd thought he'd won the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Harry started to lose color in his face the more he thought about it. When Ron and Violet glanced over at him, they noticed.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Violet asked with concern.

"Yeah, you don't look so good, mate." Ron said, with just as much concern.

"No, guys, I'm fine, really..." Harry said, mostly trying to convince himself.

I've got to get this out of my mind! I can't keep thinking about it...if I do, it'll just drive me insane! Harry thought, shaking his head to get those thoughts out of his head, I'm just going to concentrate on Quidditch...I'm not going to let this ruin my game too...

Finally, it was time for the game to start.

"Okay, guys. Let's take the field." Katie said, leading them outside the room, onto the Quidditch field.

Harry took a deep breath to calm himself down as they stepped outside.

Here goes nothing...Harry thought, getting on his Firebolt and taking to the sky.