a/n: Is this the end? How are we here already? I cannot tell you how much I've enjoyed writing this story. I'm so sad it's over! Thank you all for reading and reviewing! I don't deserve you! 3
The italicized paragraph towards the end is taken from the ending monologue in the movie, with a little twist!
One Year Later
Ron
It had been the longest morning of my life. Since Ginny and Harry's wedding last year, Hermione and I had been practically inseparable. We moved in together after two months, and I proposed after only three months together.
I knew without a doubt that she was the woman I was meant to spend my entire life with, and I didn't want to wait. I'd done enough of that already. It was still better than Harry proposing to Ginny after a week and a half, although I actually bought the ring after a month, and held onto it until I was sure she wouldn't say no.
Now, here I was, waiting as the minutes and hours moved at an agonizing rate. Ginny, Lavender and the rest of my sisters in law whisked Hermione away last night before I could even kiss her goodbye. I hadn't slept at all as I'd gotten so used to her beside me. Screw tradition.
I checked my watch. We still had forty five minutes until the ceremony, and I was too impatient. I stood up and made my way to the door. "Where are you going?" Harry asked. We'd gotten close over the last year, and he'd become one of my best mates.
"I need to see her, Harry. I don't want to wait anymore." Harry looked like he was going to say something, but I stopped him. "Save it. You knew this was going to happen, right? I'll be back with plenty of time. Just cover for me, yeah?"
I disappeared out the door and felt around my pocket for the key to our honeymoon suite. Hermione had stayed there last night with the bridesmaids, but they were using a different location to get ready today. Unlocking the door, I slipped inside. I was planning on texting Hermione to meet me if she could get away for a few moments, but it looked like I wouldn't need to.
"I'm coming, Ginny! I told you I just needed to get—" She froze when she saw that it was me leaning against the door. "Ron! What are you— You're not supposed to be here! It's bad —"
"Don't honestly tell me you believe in that superstition," I said with a smirk.
She looked absolutely stunning. If I thought she'd taken my breath away in that emerald green bridesmaid dress last year, that was nothing compared to this. It looked like a tulle ball gown that cascaded down from a V-neck bodice, covered in delicate silver and lace embroidery. Her back was mostly exposed aside from the straps that connected to create a type of key-hole opening.
You could take me out of the commitments section, but I'd gotten really good at describing the bride's choice of dresses. This time, though, it was my bride and my wedding. She was perfect.
"You look…" I honestly had no words. Beautiful and gorgeous just didn't do her justice, amazing was too blasé of a word, and I always told her she looked stunning.
I was taking so long to answer that I saw the worried look creep over her face. "Is something wrong? Am I missing something?"
"No. No!" I stepped closer to her and placed my hands on her bare arms. "I just can't find the words to express how beautiful you look."
Her face flushed from the compliment and I couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her, but she pulled away. "Ron! We can't! You shouldn't even be here!"
"Hermione, it's fine. I came here hoping to see you anyways. It's been torturous without you."
She bit her lip in the way that always made me come undone. "I almost texted you, too. It was just too much in there with everyone. I missed you."
"Less than a half hour now before we won't have to worry about that ever again."
Her smile turned into a look of panic. "Ron! You've already seen me! Now I won't get to see your reaction when I step onto the aisle." She looked genuinely upset.
"Hermione, if you honestly think the look on my face every time I lay eyes on you today is going to change, you're mental," I reassured her.
"Really?"
"Yes, of course. And if it is slightly different, at least you know you got to see my real reaction without anyone else watching."
"That's true…" she agreed. "I'll see you soon, okay?"
I nodded as I pulled her into me and kissed the top of her head since I knew she wouldn't let me kiss her yet. "I love you," I told her as I pulled away, seeking her eyes with mine.
"I love you, too," she said with a genuine smile.
~o~
I'd finally taken my place next to the officiant with Harry and Neville standing beside me. I could see Lavender and Ginny waiting at the top of the aisle, but not Hermione. Judging by the look Ginny just shot me, I knew she found out about our secret meeting. I gave her a look that said, 'what are you going to do about it,' which sent her into an annoyed tailspin.
The music started, and Mum and Dad came down the aisle, followed by Lavender, who shot a seductive, inviting look towards Neville. I looked over at him to try and figure out what I'd missed and he returned my glance with a guilty smile of his own. Ginny came down next, and as per usual, she only had eyes for Harry. The plum color Hermione had chosen looked nice on her, but that was all I let myself notice as my eyes returned to the doorway for Hermione.
I knew I'd already seen her once, but nothing prepared me for that rush of love I felt as I saw her again. The way her dress glistened in the light, and the way she was looking down to make sure she wasn't going to trip on her dress. My god, I loved her so much. In that moment I'd never been more thankful for all the shit I'd been through. It led me to this moment, and it was all that mattered as I thought back to how we got here.
That day I knew she woke up and put on her twenty-ninth dress. She went to a wedding where no one asked her to hold the bouquet, fold a place card, or hold their dress while they peed. Everything was perfect, and I could tell she didn't care because right then, the only thing that mattered was the person waiting for her at the end of the aisle. Me. And I could tell by the look on her face that I was looking at her in the way she'd always hoped.
I felt the grin spread across my face, probably in the way that Hermione liked to describe as lopsided. If I thought that last hour leading up to this moment was slow, her trek down the aisle took even longer. I just wanted her in my arms.
Finally, they reached us, and Mr. Granger gave his daughter away as I took her hands in mine. We'd chosen Pynes House as our venue, and everything was simply breathtaking. It was nice to be in a venue that was closer to where I grew up, and the countryside was quaint and everything Hermione was hoping for when we began searching.
"So," I asked before the officiant started. "Is this everything you were hoping for?"
Hermione let a small, knowing smile escape her lips. I knew how much she'd dreamt of her very own wedding, and I probably wanted it to be perfect for her even more than she wanted it for herself.
"No," she said slowly. I raised my eyebrow, waiting for her to continue. "It's more," she said.
I matched her smile with my own, relieved to know this day was everything she ever wanted, and that it got to be with me. We both turned to the officiant who began the ceremony. Every other wedding I'd seen always seemed to take forever to wrap up, but for us, it seemed to go by in a blur.
Before I knew it, I was sliding a ring on her finger and saying 'I do', and the officiant was pronouncing us man and wife. Finally, I could kiss her. I leaned in and captured her lips with my own. We probably lingered a bit too long, but I didn't care. I finally pulled away as we were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
It was then that I knew I'd go through every messy moment of my life over again if it meant it would always lead me to this moment right here. I'd found the woman of my dreams, and our life was only beginning.
The End
