Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, The Wedding Date, or any related characters.
A/N: Happy Thursday all! Only two more chapters left to go after this one. This story has been flying by! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it :)
Thanks to the lovely accio-broom for being an absolute beta rockstar! Go check out her stories :)
The Wedding Date
Chapter Six
Hermione
For the first time since arriving in London, Hermione was in a state of bliss. The past twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind, and she couldn't believe how things had managed to work out. Although she was initially hung up on her ex, those feelings quickly dissolved as new ones emerged for her fake boyfriend, who she proceeded to shag the living daylights out of. Of course, it wasn't that simple. They managed a blazing row the morning after, followed by a quick make-up after their heated dance session.
They even found a way to escape to her family's boathouse that afternoon to continue the escapades they started the night prior.
Suffice to say, Hermione felt quite liberated walking into the Country house for the wedding rehearsal dinner.
Lavender, being Lavender, recognized the shit-eating grins plastered to their faces upon arrival. A vast difference from the frosty glances they exchanged earlier at the dance studio.
"You shagged him, didn't you?" she questioned Hermione immediately.
Luckily, Ron was out of earshot, already caught in conversation with Seamus and Harry. She gave him a once-over again, licking her lips subtlety as she took in how incredibly handsome he was.
Someone cleared their throat loudly, causing Hermione to sheepishly break her smoldering stare. It was Lavender, who was smirking, eyebrows raised.
"How do you do that?" Hermione huffed out, annoyed.
Her best friend shrugged happily. "I just sense these kinds of things. Now, tell me everything. What was it like? I was a bit worried when you two showed up earlier, I thought you were quarreling, but you certainly seemed to have sorted it all out by the end of the song!"
Hermione hadn't once stopped to think about how their dancing could have been perceived by everyone else in the room. She groaned and placed her head in her hands. "It was positively terrible, wasn't it? Lav, I'm sorry-"
"What are you on about? That was the most entertaining dance I've ever witnessed. I had to tell Seamus, you know, if he doesn't dip me low like Ron did, well, he might as well forget about wedding night sex…"
"Lav, too much!" Hermione hissed, cupping her ears dramatically, looking around to make sure their conversation wasn't attracting any attention from other guests.
Lavender hooked her arm with Hermione's and leaned closer. "What was it then, that upset you? Was it his...you know?"
"Lavender!"
Ron, of course, took that moment to find her eyes from across the yard. He was still far enough away not to be able to listen in, thank Merlin, but close enough that he could see Hermione's face turn crimson. He cocked his head at her, clearly intrigued. He was likely well aware of what or who exactly they were discussing.
"What? I had to ask!" Lavender continued to look at Hermione expectantly. She held up another bottle of champagne she had just confiscated from a nearby table, indicating that she would be hanging around for a bit longer.
Hermione only pursed her lips. "I am not answering that one."
Lavender scanned her eyes for any traces of an answer. Finally, she sighed deeply, gulping down the last drops of her champagne before immediately refilling her glass. "Oh no. He's bloody perfect, isn't he?"
When Hermione's gaze landed once more on Ron's trademark curvy smile, she positively swooned on the inside. Pretty damn close.
Hermione managed to break away from Lavender's interrogation several minutes later, and she was intent on sneaking up on Ron, who remained engaged in conversation with Harry. She overheard a few lines as she walked up,
"...and Hermione said that she'd like to explore Ottery a bit more. I figured we could let Chudley tag along…"
She beamed. Hermione could hear the excitement in Ron's voice as he gushed about the plans they had already discussed for when they returned home. Quietly, she made her move and stretched up to her tip-toes to wrap her arms around Ron's neck from behind.
"So...I wouldn't be interrupting, would I?" She murmured close to Ron's ear. He turned his head slightly to give her a peck on the cheek.
Harry rolled his eyes from his position in front of them. "Not at all, Hermione. I was just letting Ron know that I accepted his application to be my new best friend. He starts immediately. Sorry about your rotten luck."
"Aw, come on, you can have more than one best friend, can't you?" Ron wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders and gave her a quick wink, "Besides, we're a package deal."
Although Harry looked thoroughly disgusted by their outward display of affection, he quickly found the humor in the situation. "There's gotta be something wrong with him, don't ya think?" Harry mused, referring to Ron, earning a slap on the arm from Hermione.
"Don't be jealous, Potter," Hermione teased back, yelping as Harry attempted to ruffle her perfectly groomed hair.
"You know, mate, I have a sister, Ginny. She's only a year younger than me. Super fun personality, wicked sense of humor, brilliant red hair like myself, currently single. I think you two would get on quite well."
Harry released a wide grin and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Well, well, well, looks like Harry Potter is the one pulling the moves now. I may be able to catch my own Weasley soon!"
Ron pointed a finger in the other man's direction. "Hey now, just because I am willing to introduce the two of you doesn't mean I want to hear any of your holier-than-thou shit. She's still my sister!"
It had been a long time since Hermione had laughed this hard. She was right where she belonged, and it just so happened to be in Ron's arms.
Ron
Bloody hell, this woman was intoxicating. The deep red, silky dress she wore hugged all of her curves in all the right places. The dress draped all the way to the floor in length, held up at the top by only a thin strap off one shoulder. So much of her bare skin was exposed, from her upper back to half of her collarbone. They had been intimate just minutes before she put on the dress and all he wanted to do was rip the bloody thing off again.
His improper thoughts were difficult to squash as she moved gracefully across the open grass in the garden behind the most beautiful Country home he had ever stayed in.
His gorgeous woman in question was now walking towards him, her dress flowing behind her as she strolled.
"Ron, would you mind helping us look for Lavender? She seems to have disappeared."
Ron instantly frowned. "Disappeared? How long ago?"
"Maybe fifteen minutes. She was on the verge of being sloshed, I'm afraid. I knew I should've taken the bottle from her when I had the chance…"
"Could she be in the loo?" He questioned.
"Already checked," Seamus replied as he walked up. "Man, I hope she didn't see me grab the last bottle of champagne. I should've offered her a glass first..." He rubbed his head, as if he were trying hard to think about if he could've possibly stepped on her toes.
Hermione kinked an eyebrow. "Seamus, have you two had a real fight? Ever?"
Seamus considered the question for a moment and then blushed. "Well...no...but hopefully soon. I hear that make-up sex is the best kind, am I right?"
Ron and Hermione met each other's eyes and slyly grinned. Though, they weren't sly enough, as Seamus was already wagging his eyebrows suggestively at Hermione when she looked back at him.
Just then, Ron spotted a shed just a small distance from the house. "I'll be back," he murmured, kissing Hermione's temple softly before heading in that direction.
As Ron drew closer to the shed, he could hear sharp, whispered voices from behind the door. One was definitely Lavender, and the other...was Cormac.
"Lavender, please-"
"No. I mean it. I need you to stay away. I told you two years ago, and I am telling you again. Hermione is my best friend. I would never hurt her like that!"
"Then tell me you don't love me too." Love him? "Tell me I made it all up in my head…"
"You did! I've never had any semblance of feelings towards you, other than disdain for breaking Hermione's heart. I love Seamus, and only him, and I need you to let this go. Understand?"
The door to the shed burst open, not allowing Ron enough time to hide. Cormac came barreling through, his eyes flaming red as he spotted Ron hovering in the corner.
"You. What are you doing here?"
Ron clenched his fist and set his jaw. "I might ask you the same question."
"Ron!" Lavender exclaimed, looking quite flustered as she stood in the doorway. Cormac only shook his head and stomped off down the field.
Ron watched him go for a few seconds, completely appalled by what just happened. When he returned his gaze to Lavender, she had tears streaming down her cheeks. "Ron, please, please don't say anything to Hermione. She doesn't need to waste another second on that miserable piece of shit. I swear to you if he weren't Seamus' best friend, I would've given him a larger piece of my mind by now."
Well fuck. He was in an interesting position right now. All he could think about was Hermione. His blood boiled as he thought of how she had been completely manipulated and lied to by Cormac for, likely, years. It didn't help that her best friend had been hiding a secret from her as well.
"You meant it then? When you said that nothing has ever happened between the two of you?" His mouth set in a hard line, and he felt fiercely protective over Hermione.
"I promise. I promise you, nothing has ever happened, and nothing ever will. I've told him so many times, but he just won't listen." The urgency in her voice, the pleading look in her eyes. Both were positive signs that he should believe her.
"Have you told Seamus?"
"What? N-no."
Ron glared at her. "You don't think he deserves to know that his best friend is an arsehole who's trying to steal his girl?"
"Ron, please. I just want to forget about all of this. You understand, don't you? Wanting to just move on from the past?"
Thunder rumbled off in the distance. He should've known then that the evening wouldn't end as well as he had hoped.
"Come on, let's get you back over to the group before the rain starts."
Hermione
Hermione was more than concerned as she spotted Ron guiding Lavender back over to join the party. Her best friend had a smile plastered on her face as she kissed Seamus enthusiastically, but there was something off in her normally bright eyes.
"Hi," Ron muttered as he drew near.
"Hi. Is everything alright?" She placed a hand on his arm.
"Yeah." Ron grabbed her hand, and tenderly brought the back of it up to meet his lips. "Everything's fine. Would you like another glass?" He pointed to the empty flute in her hand.
"That would be lovely."
"Be right back," he grinned at her.
Less than ten seconds after Ron left, Cormac had approached the group, staring directly at Hermione in a determined way that made her quite uncomfortable.
"Hermione, would it be possible for us to, uh, chat for a moment?"
"Let me think," Harry sarcastically interjected, "You wasted over seven years of her life with your bullshit and pompous attitude, and now you'd like to have a word?" He scoffed into his drink.
Hermione glared at him but followed Cormac anyway. He didn't stop moving until they had reached the bottom of the grassy knoll. It was a quiet spot, not currently occupied by anyone else. She had never seen Cormac nervous before — he was usually calm, collected, and confident. Now, he was shifting from foot to foot, fiddling with his hands that were clasped behind his back and avoiding eye contact with her. She craned her neck back up to the guests at the top of the hill. She could just barely make out Ron, now standing with Harry, with flutes of champagne in his hands. He watched them angrily, almost as if he wanted to interrupt, but she wondered if Harry had talked him out of it.
"I just feel like…" Cormac's voice drew her attention back to him, "I owe you an explanation of sorts."
Hermione winced. She didn't fancy reliving her past mistakes right now. "Cormac, really, you don't. It's fine. It's all in the past. I'm with Ron now." She couldn't help but feel giddy from her last words.
Cormac opened his mouth to respond but quickly closed it again, obviously rethinking his next retort. Whatever Hermione had expected him to say, the actual words that lifted from his lips were not anywhere close.
"I'm in love with Lavender."
Hermione's entire body stilled, and her skin paled. "I'm sorry?"
Cormac looked relieved to have finally blurted his secret out. "It's why I broke it off with you. I couldn't hide my feelings for her anymore."
He's in love with Lavender.
She felt like all of the air had left her lungs, and her vision was growing cloudy. "I - I need to go."
"Hermione!" She could hear Cormac shouting at her as she stumbled away, but she didn't stop. All she knew was that she needed to separate herself from the crowd of guests before she burst out into tears.
Strong arms grabbed hold of her just before she fell in the grass. When she looked up, she found worry etched across Ron's face.
"Get me out of here, please."
Ron nodded wordlessly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and guiding her towards the house. They didn't get very far before they were intercepted,
"You! I told you not to say anything to her!" Lavender accused, eyes glaring daggers at Ron. Seamus followed behind, appearing thoroughly confused.
Another punch to the gut. She removed herself immediately from Ron's embrace. She hoped her eyes displayed the hurt she felt inside when she met his regretful gaze, "You knew?"
Hermione could feel water droplets sprinkling onto her skin, thunder clapping off in the distance. She figured it might as well downpour on her now. Hermione did the only thing she thought she could do at that moment. She turned and fled.
"Hermione, Hermione, wait!" Ron called after her.
The rain picked up speed, as did her feet as she ran down the hill. She knew Ron was chasing after her, but she didn't stop running until she reached a set of trees at the base of the hill. Ron caught up to her quickly; however, she ignored him, instead choosing to collapse her back against the tree. She let out a frustrated sob and placed a hand over her mouth.
"Hermione…"
"You knew and you didn't tell me!" She shouted back.
Ron appeared irritated and spoke gravely, "I knew for less than ten bloody minutes. I only found out when I overheard their conversation." They were both soaked now, standing in the pouring rain, water mixing in with the tears on her cheeks. Hermione's dress clung to her wet body.
"Secret conversations...even better!" She threw her hands up into the air.
"Hermione, you should know that I believe Lavender when she says nothing happened between them. They didn't know I was there when I overheard, and she's told him to stay away-"
"I don't need to hear this right now." She was already shaking her head, prepared to run off.
"Yes. Yes, you do." Ron attempted to grab her arm, but she swatted him away.
Hermione sank onto the ground, her back still against the tree. She didn't even care that her dress was now caked with mud. "I should've...I should've known. How could I have been so stupid?"
Ron kneeled in front of her, a safe distance away. "You're not stupid."
She sniffed. "Don't. I can't hear this right now. I should've known this was all a terrible idea. And Lavender encouraged me to do it..."
"Do what?" She could hear the growing frustration in Ron's voice.
"To bring you here! I've made an absolute fool of myself."
Ron's eyes darkened, and his features hardened. "And you're blaming me for this? That's bloody rich."
"You told me everything was fine," she threw back with clenched teeth.
"What did you expect? For me to tell you in front of everyone? I thought I would at least wait until…"
"No, you don't get to do that. How do I know you weren't just going to keep this tidbit of information all to yourself? You've already proven to me once that you're a good liar."
Ron stood up fully, the hurt plain as day on his face. Hermione instantly regretted the words that came out of her mouth. It wasn't the way she had intended. "Ron, I…"
"You what?"
An image of Cormac and Lavender popped into her mind, and she lowered her head, not able to finish her sentence. "I just...I need some time to process everything."
"You know what, Hermione?" He stood up, full of rage. "Fine. Push me away. I can tell you're used to doing that, yeah?"
She didn't even stop him as he walked slowly back up the hill, finding herself now alone in a puddle of water.