Hi everyone!

A new chapter - Ron's stag party! What have Harry and Hermione planned for their best friend?

Thank you so much for joining me for another chapter of How to get engaged! My life has been absolutely crazy - changed jobs, got engaged myself (OMG!), so there's been a lot on my plate, but I do hope I find more time in my schedule to update. I still love this story and I really strive to finish it one day :)

Thank you to everyone who's been keeping track of this story. I still get daily reminders of people reading or subscribing - it makes me soar with joy, I can't tell you that enough. A special thanks to BananaCarrot5 on Discord for Beta'ing this chapter.

Lots of love,

Flora

Chapter 43: How Ron Weasley faced the thing he thought he feared most in the world.

'Hermione, where are we going?'

'I told you, Ronald. Nicky has an errand to run and you promised-…'

'I wouldn't deny my pregnant fiancée a thing, yes.'

Ron groaned as he straightened his collar. It was Saturday morning. Diagon Alley was packed with witches and wizards doing their Easter shopping.

'Our wedding is tomorrow. Can't you do this on your own, Hermione? There's things I actually need to do, you know. And George couldn't make it in today, we are really super busy right now, and-…'

'And all that is more important than Nicky's errand? You are going to be her husband, not me,' Hermione said pointedly, while she allowed for a group of elderly ladies to pass into the yarn-shop in front of them.

'Well, no, of course not, but-…'

'You're just grumpy,' Hermione smiled wickedly. 'Grumpy because Harry forgot to throw you your Bachelor party.'

There was silence. Ron looked like Hermione had hit him in the face, as they resumed their quick pace to the baby-shop.

'Well,' Ron protested, but then he caved in. 'Of course I'm a bit worked up over that too, yes! I know you've had it busy with The Prophet and all that, but-… He's my best friend, I expected him to… At least… Make an effort or something… I mean…'

Hermione actually felt pity for her poor friend. Ron looked like he could cry.

'I know, Harry feels very guilty about it too,' she lied. 'But he's promised to throw you a party after the wedding, just for you. Remember?'

Harry had brought the news to Ron a few days ago. Ron had taken it in his stride, at first glance, saying "of course, I understand completely" in a pompous matter that wasn't quite befitting of him, but now Hermione noticed that Ron had changed his mind on the subject. Or maybe he had been acting out the desirable answer in the first place – that was more likely, yes.

They stepped into the baby-shop, bought the vitamin-potion Nicky had pretended to be short on, and stepped outside. Ron looked absolutely dreadful.

'Hey, cheer up, Ron!' Hermione smiled. 'You know what – let's grab something to drink. My treat!'

'No,' Ron said, his face more ashen by the second, 'I'm… I'm fine, Hermione. I just want to get back to work.'

'Oh, come on, it's your last chance as an unmarried man, you know,' Hermione quipped, but Ron looked so sad her heart broke a bit.

'No, really, I just… I just want to be alone for a bit,' he said, with a thin smile. 'Thanks for getting the potion with me, though.'

'Ron,' Hermione tried, but Ron was already set on returning. He straightened his jacket, put the potion in his pocket and then looked at Hermione.

'I'll see you tomorrow, alright?'

Ron scanned the street to see when he could squeeze into the passing crowd.

'Ron,' Hermione said again.

No answer.

'Ronald.'

'What?!' he answered, annoyed.

'I'm afraid I must insist,' she said. Ron frowned, and then frowned some more, and then his expression cleared.

'Oh- ooooh! No way!'

Hermione sighed, shaking her head, as Ron sprang up next to her, his change of appearance so quickly it was absolutely hysterical.

'Where? Where are we going to get a drink? I'd love to get a drink, Hermione!'

'You absolute moron,' Hermione laughed. 'Let's go.'

The crowd yelled "Surprise!" as Hermione and Ron entered the pub. An enormous, orange banner, spelling "Ron's Stag Do", flashed against the walls, orange bubbles filled the ceiling, a group of at least 30 people, men and women, dressed in Chudley Cannons jerseys, cheered raising their orange butterbeers.

'I knew it!' Ron yelled, as he took Harry in a tight embrace, 'I knew you'd organize something for me!'

'Of course!' Harry said, grinning, his face painted orange and black.

'I didn't doubt you! I never doubted you!' Ron beamed, and Harry made an all-saying face behind Ron's back to Hermione, who wheezed. Ron went on to hug the other guests – his family members, friends, co-workers.

'Was he being difficult?' Harry asked Hermione, while kissing her on the cheek.

'He didn't want to come,' she said and Harry winced.

'I knew it. We should have pressed the Cannons harder to reset the date-…'

'Sshhh!' Hermione mouthed, looking at Ron, who had just turned around and waved happily to them, absolutely overjoyed.
'I don't think he minds anymore,' Hermione laughed. 'And well, with your ambitious plans, it's okay for him to have been sweating as long as possible. He'll look back on it fondly, I'm sure.'

They shared a brief kiss as they saw Ron had discovered Nicky, who had been sitting on a chair quite close to them. She looked pale and exhausted, but glowing at the same time, overjoyed at Ron's reaction.

'Nick! What-…'

'I'll go soon,' she smiled, 'I promise. I'm just here for the first bit, I couldn't resist seeing your reaction.'

'I'm so surprised!' Ron said, giddy like a child, as he kissed her. 'I'm so glad you're here too!'

'Hermione will take me home, later on,' she smiled. 'Don't worry, you'll have an amazing day today.'

'She's in good hands,' Hermione promised to Ron. His grin was so big it must have been hurting his face, as he pulled Harry and Hermione in for a hug together.

'I love you guys,' he emphasized. 'So, what now? Beer?'

'Day-drinking it is!' Harry quipped and he winked to Hermione. 'But first, Ron, let's get you dressed up too…'

It didn't take long for Ron to wear an orange jersey as well – this one with "Weasley" embroidered on the back – and down his first beer. Harry then used his presentation Pensieve to do a quiz with the attendants about Ron's life.

'So, we are going to do a little multiple choice quiz about Ron's greatest and not-so greatest moments,' Harry started, as the crowd excitedly opened the parchment rolls in front of them.

'You have been put into groups and the group who did the best job at assessing Ron's actions, will win the honourable title of "Ron Weasley-expert", so that's something to be very excited about,' he said. 'After each round, my lovely assistant, Hermione Granger, will take your scrolls and check them for you. Ron himself knows all of the answers so he won't participate, sorry Ron, but you will provide us with a lot of necessary background information, I'm sure.'

Ron looked mortified at his friends, who were already talking and huddling together. He sat next to Nicky, who could only smile at him.

'I'm sorry in advance for anything you'll see today,' he said solemnly. She laughed. 'I'm sure it'll be fine, Ron.'

'Okay, we're starting out with this first question. This memory was provided by Molly Weasley, Ron's lovely mother, of course-…'

Ron cowered in his seat as he watched himself as a newborn, sleeping softly, the hair on his head already as bright red as it could be.

'I thought Stag Do's were supposed to be fun,' he cringed, as Hermione patted him sympathetically on the arm.

'Ohhh, Ron,' Nicky cooed. 'Look how cute you were!'

Ron grumbled and folded his arms across his chest.

'So, as you see in this memory,' Harry commented, 'Ron is given a teddy bear. What was the name of this teddy bear? Was it A…'

Ron rolled his eyes but then smiled, watching as his friends were all debating whether Ron would simply call his stuffed animal "Bear", which was option A, or "Captain Fluff", which was B.

Harry had graciously accepted various memories from friends and family to make the quiz a memorable event – him and Hermione had plenty of hilarious memories to show, including their entrapment in Devil's Snare, numeral encounters in the Forbidden Forrest and their trip to Australia. George had given Harry quite a few memories of him and Ron testing new products for the WWW-line, which made Harry reconsider the danger of Ron's work. Bill had contributed a wonderful memory by his wife, of Ron asking Fleur to the Yule Ball, which made the crowd howl with laughter and Ron crimson with embarrassment. On the other hand, Harry made sure to include a lot of proud moments for Ron as well, like the destruction of the locket, and it didn't take long for the quiz to develop into a round of sharing stories and experiences. Ron's awkwardness faded as well, seeming prouder and prouder of his shared experiences as the time passed, encouraged by the positive reactions and Nicky's reassurance.

Ron had downed enough beers at a certain point to boast and at the end of the quiz, which was won by Ginny's team, they all sat down at a long table, listening to Ron's embellished stories. The head of the pub brought on dinner, while Harry stood up and used a Sonorus to make himself heard over the conversating crowd.

'Now, everyone, before we start eating our meals, I would like to talk about the activity that we will be doing next.'

Hermione was eyeing Ron with an all-knowing smile on her face, anticipating his reaction.

'As you all know, I explicitly asked you to come dressed in a Chudley Cannons jersey or sporting robe. And that's not because Ron's bedroom was plastered with it his entire teenage years, but also because it's required for our next activity. For introducing this, I would like to ask Ginny to come here too, as we've concocted this one together…'

Ron's eyebrows rose as Ginny walked to Harry and enhanced her voice as well. She looked complacent and proud and by the looks of it, Ron wasn't trusting his sister's smugness.

'So, as you all know, the Chudley Cannons have been placing horribly this year. Ragmar Dorkins has been contemplating resignation as a manager as they are currently on a 32-game losing streak.'

The crowd responded with a unified "ouch" and Ron visibly flinched.

'And it is therefore they have concluded they have nothing left to lose. Literally. So, when Harry and I asked him for a favor, he didn't say "hell no", like we expected, he was actually very enthusiastic about the idea, as it would mean he would actually sell an adequate amount of tickets for a game for once…'

'What she's trying to say,' Harry laughed, interrupting Ginny's rambling, 'is that we are going to fulfil a childhood dream of you today, Ron. We have spoken to the Head of the Quidditch league and they have allowed us, for one time only, to replace the current Chudley Cannons team with one of your choice. Which means, you will play as a Keeper for the Chudley Cannons today, in their match against the Ballycastle Bats, which will be held at 3 PM this afternoon.'

Ron's eyes seemed to pop out of his head.

'The Ballycastle Bats have agreed as well – we've got it in writing. You can compile a team out of everyone here who's able to fly on a broom today. There is one condition – you are only allowed to pick non-professional players for your team, which means that you can't choose Ginny or Jaana, as they are obligated to play for the Harpies only.'

Ron was still silent and breathing heavily through his nose. Nicky and Hermione looked at each other, hardly keeping it together, as Harry had to literally walk over to Ron to help him get up from his chair.

'Now,' Harry said, his voice still magically enhanced, Ron holding his arm with wide eyes like a lost child at a big zoo, 'there is no way we're going to win this game, because the Bats are placed 3rd at the moment, so there's no pressure on us, at all. We're just going to have a lot of fun with this.'

'And if you do win, by some crazy coincidence,' Ginny quipped, 'you have helped The Harpies a lot, because the Bats are one of our strongest competitors at the moment. We didn't manage to beat them three weeks ago, so it would be a perfect revanche. So Ron, what do you say? Who's going to be in your team?'

Silence fell, where everyone looked at Ron, who was still silent and breathing heavily. Then, he looked at Harry.

'But… But… I thought you'd forgotten,' he croaked.

Harry smiled at him and used his wand to get his voice back to normal.

'Of course I didn't. I've been arranging this for months! You're my best friend. I love you, man. I could never forget you.'

Then Ron jumped at Harry, frantically hugging him, pushing all the air out of his lungs. Hermione laughed and she looked at Nicky, who wasn't laughing, but crying.

'It's the hormones,' she said to Hermione, but Hermione shook her head. She understood completely.

'So… If something will take his nerve away from the wedding tomorrow…' Hermione joked, as they entered Nicky and Ron's apartment again. Nicky laughed, as she held tight unto Hermione's arm.

'Oof, yes! I'm not sure if he'll be able to talk about anything else tomorrow,' Nicky chuckled. '"What wedding? Didn't you hear – I was Keeper at the Chudley Cannon's game yesterday!"'

Hermione helped Nicky towards the sofa, where she lay down. Her Healer had ordered her to stay in bed as much as possible, but she wasn't exactly the type to sit still. The fatigue on her face was showing though, and worry crept up on Hermione.

'Something to take our minds of too, then?' Nicky interrupted her thoughts, seeing her worried look. 'I think we've deserved a good chick movie. From one Muggleborn to another – have you already seen Bridget Jones's Diary?'

She had not.

Two hours, a lot of crisps and laughs and banter later, Hermione found herself on a comfortable armchair, next to Nicky. She had kicked off her shoes and was drinking butterbeer.

'Hugh Grant was great as a scumbag, right?' Nicky chuckled. 'I mean, I was swooning all over him in Notting Hill, but in this movie… It's just great to hate him.'

'Absolutely,' Hermione agreed. 'And Colin Firth-…'

'He looks like Harry a bit, don't you think?'

They howled.

'No! Harry's not stuck up like that! And I am in no way a Natascha!'

'No no, I mean, like, in looks, not in how-… You know, Colin Firth with green eyes-…'

'Oh right, and Ron, a red-headed Hugh Grant, you mean?' Hermione dished back as Nicky laughed.

It felt so weird for Hermione to have girly talks like these. Before the war, she had despised it, she'd thought it was beneath her. Looking back, she now felt sorry for her superiority complex over "normal girls" and their gossip. Women were allowed to let their hair down, to have fun. It had been so recent for her to experience any of that.

'Can't stop thinking about the boys,' Nicky sighed after they closed their conversation topic, chewing on another hand of crisps. 'I'd give anything to have attended that match…'

'Same,' Hermione said, raising her glass. 'Harry was so excited – he behaved like a hyperactive puppy yesterday. Jumpy, jittery... He was all over me!'

Nicky gave Hermione a certain look and she burst out in laughter.

'Yeah, in that way too. Insatiable whenever he gets excited.'

Nicky laughed deeply.

'Sounds like Ron. He's had it tough, lately. I mean, I still think he's attractive and sexy but, you know, with this belly in the way… Not a lot happening, unfortunately.'

Hermione chuckled.

'A quiet wedding night it is, then.'

'Yes. I'll be out like a light, I'm sure,' Nicky sighed, her face still friendly. Then her look saddened. Hermione sat up a bit straighter, catching onto it.

'How do you feel about tomorrow? Everything's in order, right?'

'Yeah – yeah, it is. Of course it is. The decorations have been dealt with, Ron's family is doing that part right now. And my dress is ready, I know what make-up I'll put on…'

'That's a lot of practical things. How do you feel?'

Nicky chuckled bitterly.

'Merlin, you're thorough. I see what Harry means.'

She gave a wink and then sighed deeply.

'It's my sister.'

'Which one?' Hermione asked, knowing Nicky came from a huge family, like Ron.

'Lucy,' Nicky replied.

'Oh! The one that works in the Law Department as well? You gave me her contact information,' Hermione said. She'd seen the girl in passing a few times – a very serious, stick-thin woman, with long, dark brown hair that she kept in a linear braid. She never smiled, never said hello and couldn't look any less like her sister.

'Yes. She's… Well, let's say she's not been very supportive…'

'How come?'

'Well… You might not know, but she's been together with her boyfriend for quite some time now. 7 years, I believe. She's the oldest girl in our family and… well…'

Nicky was silent for a moment, her blue eyes suddenly big and heavy and then she started crying.

'Oh I'm being silly,' she said through her tears. 'I'm sorry, Hermione…'

'Nick! Oh my God! Don't say sorry!'

She shot up from her chair to envelop Nicky in a tight hug. The girl clang to her like she hadn't hugged anyone in ages.

'It started when we announced our wedding and pregnancy. She wasn't happy for us at all. First thing out of her mouth was: "It should have been me", you know. And she's been trying to shield her reaction from mom and dad but when we're alone she's so… vile. We were never super close but you know, as the oldest sister, mom kind of expected me to pick her as my maid of honour, so I did, but it's been nothing but awful, Hermione. Just awful!'

Hermione cast a Accio for a bottle of water for Nicky as she sat closer to her and offered her a napkin. She blew her nose and uttered a soft "thank you".

'She didn't throw me a bachelor party on purpose. She said that I wouldn't be able to celebrate anyway without the alcohol.'

'What?! That's absurd!'

'It's… fine, I guess, I never liked the attention anyway. I was supposed to sleep at her place tonight but I just… I just don't want to, Hermione. I know I have to but I really really don't want to-…'

'Then don't,' Hermione said honestly. 'Sleep here. I'll stay too, Harry will too, we'll get you ready in the morning.'

'But… I can't just… Not turn up at her house…' Nicky sobbed.

'Oh you can,' Hermione said. 'If she's been that awful to you, she deserves it. And you can always play the "I'm super pregnant with twins and need to lay low"-card if she complains about any of that. You deserve to have a happy day tomorrow, Nick.'

'I kind of wish Ron and I had just eloped,' Nicky said quietly. 'Just the two of us… No family, just us…'

She held onto her heavy belly and cringed her face.

'Ooff…'

'Nicky, are you-…'

'I'm okay,' she said, sounding more tired than ever. 'It's Braxton Hicks-contractions, they're not real. I've been having them for a few days now, the Healer said we're fine. Yes, shh, you hear that?' she now spoke to her belly. 'We're fine, it's all going to be just fine…'

'Let me help you lie down,' Hermione said worriedly, as she helped Nicky raise her legs on the couch. She put a pillow beneath her calves and head and Nicky smiled.

'You are absolutely amazing, Hermione, you know that? I'm so happy to call you my friend.'

Hermione smiled back as she felt a knot in her stomach.

'Me too, Nick. I can't imagine anyone being-…'

'WE'RE HOME! We wanted to come here first to tell you!'

Ron's bellowing voice boomed through the hall and had Nicky shot half up. It didn't take long for her freckled fiancé appeared in the living room, drenched in sweat and mud and clad in his orange Quidditch robes, followed by a grinning Harry.

'Guess what happened, Nick! Guess what happened?!'

He jumped up and down and Nicky laughed deeply.

'Merlin, you're not going to tell me you won-…'

'Of course we didn't,' Harry snickered.

'No, but I stopped five goals, Nick! I stopped five! One against Peterson – Peterson, Nicky! I stopped a throw from bloody Jeremy "Perfect Aim" Peterson!'

'He did,' Harry said. 'Dorkins almost fainted.'

He winked at Hermione and placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth.

'I think our team was better than the actual Cannons, Harry! You'd think I could opt for a career switch?'

'You could opt for a shower,' Harry said pointedly. 'The rest of the group is probably already finished showering and they're waiting for us at the pub, remember?'

'Yes, I know, I know… But five goals, Nick!'

Nicky laughed hard and kissed Ron back as he hunched over her – sweat and mud be damned. He skipped to the bathroom and Hermione felt a fondness for Ron and his enthusiasm, as she watched him almost weep with joy.

'And how did it go for you?' Hermione asked as she turned to her boyfriend. She had some very persistent butterflies in her stomach from seeing Harry wearing his Quidditch robes, but she tried not to jump him on the spot.

'We could have won,' Harry answered honestly. 'I could have caught the snitch about half an hour in, but I didn't.'

'Why not?' Nicky asked, still clenching her belly.

Harry didn't have to reply, because at the same time Ron started to sing the Chudley Cannon's chant under the shower.

'Ah,' Nicky said, realizing. 'I won't tell him.'

They discussed them sleeping over at Nicky's place and Harry Apparated to their apartment to shower and pick up their clothes. It didn't take long for them to disappear again – Ron was a bit reluctant to go when he saw how tired Nicky was, but because Hermione assured him everything would be fine, he went with Harry.

'I know it's only half past 8…' Nicky said, as soon as they went. Hermione smiled understandingly.

'Let's get you to bed, then. Big day tomorrow! I'll owl Lucy.'

'You're a saint,' Nicky said, as she leaned on Hermione for support, as she helped her towards the bedroom. 'And to think that for the first few months, I didn't particularly like you.'

Hermione chortled.

'I was your man's ex, I understand. Took me some time to warm up to you too, you know.'

Nicky smiled, her eyes sparkling.

She woke up a few hours later. At first, Hermione didn't know why, but then she heard a soft howling sound. Immediately chills shot through her body. Her spine felt frozen as she hurried out of the guestroom, into the room where the sound came from.

Nicky sat upright on the bed. Her face was drenched with sweat and tears as she clamped on her heaving body.

'Her- Herm-…' she uttered, panicked, as she gestured to her body.

Hermione pulled away the sheets and her heart stopped. Blood. A huge, crimson stain spread out underneath the sheets and for a moment, she felt she would faint.