A/N: Hey all- hadn't updated this in yonks so here is a short wee chapter. Enjoy and please review!
Chapter 23.
Fleur brought a cup of tea to Hermione in bed. Hermione looked exhausted, and her eyes were still a little puffy from crying the previous night.
"Are you okay mon amour?" Fleur asked gently, sitting on the bed. Hermione rubbed her face and sat up in bed.
"Yeah, it's just a lot to take in," Hermione sighed, taking the cup of tea.
She sipped at it quietly, staring into space.
Fleur nodded, watching Hermione carefully.
"You know… We had to file the marriage papers so fast, we didn't really get a proper wedding," Fleur said slowly. Hermione was only half listening, still lost in thought.
"Well… We had to move quickly in order to thwart your father and Ron," Hermione said distractedly, still staring into space.
"What do you think about doing something more formal?" Fleur asked, biting her lip nervously.
This snapped Hermione out of her reverie and she looked at Fleur with surprise.
"You… I mean… We did it to save you from having to marry Ron…" Hermione stammered, "I didn't… I mean I didn't think you actually wanted to…"
"I mean we're legally married," Fleur replied, "You're technically my wife."
"…And you're my wife," Hermione replied, her eyes widening, "I… Wow… I mean… We had to act so fast… Then there was this stuff with Ron… I guess I hadn't properly processed it. It's so soon—are you sure you don't want us to end the marriage and go back to how we were before?"
"Non," Fleur replied, "Yes—it is a lot sooner than either of us could have anticipated… But it feels right."
Hermione suddenly grinned broadly.
"What? Cheered up?" Fleur asked, laughing a little. Hermione really was adorable.
"Thoroughly," Hermione smiled, "Fleur Delacour, my wife. Merlin, it sounds good."
"It does, doesn't it?" Fleur laughed, "So do you want to do something special for it now all the drama has died down?"
"Definitely," Hermione replied, "The whole lot. Think of how much organising we'll get to do!"
"Oh Lord," Fleur laughed again, "You have to be the only person to sound genuinely excited about organisation."
Hermione rubbed her hands together, already lost to the excitement of research and planning ahead.
Merlin, Fleur was crazy about her.
[A/N: some time has passed]
"D'you think Ron will be okay with all this?" Hermione asked nervously, walking down the street with Harry. Harry smiled.
"He's already come a long way," Harry replied, "And at the end of the day, you're one of his best mates, even with all that has happened. I know he'd wanna be there for you."
The two of them arrived at the tidy flat where Ron was staying with Bill. He had gone to a rehab recommended by St Mungo's for a period after his hospitalisation. On his release, Bill had insisted he move in with him so he could keep a close eye on him.
Bill opened the door, smiling broadly.
"Hey Hermione, hey Har'" Bill greeted, "Come on in. You remember Sophia, right?"
"Yeah, hey Sophia," Harry greeted, heading in the door, followed by Hermione.
Hermione greeted Bill and his girlfriend, who led them to the small living room. Ron was leaning back in an armchair, reading a quidditch magazine. He had lost the extra weight, looking more in shape. His hair was trimmed neatly and styled tidily. It looked like Bill had taken him shopping too, as he was wearing a denim shirt similar to Bill's style. His hair was still thinning near the hairline, but he definitely looked healthier.
"Hey guys," Ron greeted with a grin, putting down his magazine, "What's up?"
"Hermione had some news she wanted to share with you," Harry replied, taking a seat on a couch and shooting Hermione an encouraging smile.
Hermione slowly sat next to Harry, taking in a long and shaky breath.
"Everything okay, 'Mione?" Ron asked, looking a little unsettled, "I… I'm still sorry, you know?"
"I know," Hermione said, sighing heavily. She wasn't sure if she could entirely forgive him yet, but that was something to worry about another time. "This isn't about that," Hermione continued, "I'm getting married."
Ron looked at her, surprised. His brows knitted together in confusion.
"I… I thought you were already?" Ron asked, "Otherwise you wouldn't have been able to get around the Unbreakable Vow thing."
"I mean, we are," Hermione replied, wringing her hands awkwardly, "But we don't even have rings. We want to do a ceremony and invite those close to us. Do the whole thing properly."
"Oh," Ron replied, his face still looking like he was processing the news.
"It would be weird if you didn't come," Hermione said slowly, "But only if you're up to it. I know… I know it bothers you that things didn't work out between us. But we've been best friends for so long… I guess what I'm trying to say is that it would be nice if you could come."
Harry patted her shoulder encouragingly and Bill shot her a smile. Ron frowned, fiddling with his magazine.
"I'll come, 'Mione," Ron replied.
"Great!" Harry replied, "Look at us, getting back to how things were."
"Will things ever be like how they were before the war?" Hermione replied, raising her eyebrows. Harry rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well… As best we can," Harry responded.
A sombre mood fell over the small living area.
"Are you gonna have a bachelorette party?" Ron asked suddenly. Harry, Hermione and Bill exchanged glances.
"You sure that's the best idea, buddy?" Bill asked, biting his lip.
"I can handle it," Ron insisted, "I'm not gonna fall off the bloody wagon."
Harry, Hermione and Bill exchanged glances again.
"Well… We'll see…" Bill said uneasily, "I mean I think it's enough that they want you to come to the wedding at all after everything, Ron. Don't think you should push it."
Ron nodded sullenly.
Harry and Hermione were sitting on the couch at Fleur and Hermione's apartment a couple of weeks later. They were up late, sharing a couple of beers and discussing the Ron issue.
"I mean, I just don't know if he's there yet," Hermione said, shaking her head, "Yeah, I know he's done rehab and he's doing a lot better with therapy, but… He got really fucked up, Har'. I don't know if we can trust him at a bachelorette party with all that temptation around. Not to mention the entire celebration revolving around me marrying Fleur."
"I think you're underestimating him," Harry countered, "Remember how awful he was with me when I got picked for the Triwizard Tournament at school? He was even sporting one of those godawful Potter Stinks badges,"
Hermione laughed a little at the memory.
"Yeah, I remember that. I had to go between you two constantly because you wouldn't even talk to each other. It was dreadful."
"Yeah, well, he came back from that and was still a bloody good mate." Harry replied, "And remember when he abandoned us when we were looking for the Horcruxes?"
"How could I forget?" Hermione replied hollowly, her mood darkening at the memory.
"We were so angry," Harry reminded her, "At the time that felt like the worst thing a mate could ever do to us. But he came back from that and was a good mate again. I know he still beats himself up about that."
"What's your point?" Hermione sighed, sipping at her beer.
"My point is," Harry exhaled, "We've always known Ron fucks up and makes mistakes. But he always makes it right. We always give him a shot to prove he's still there for us."
"Yeah, but… What if I'm tired of waiting for him to fuck up again?" Hermione replied.
Harry looked down at his beer, a conflicted expression on his face. The unanswered question hung heavily in the air.
"Blimey, its already 4am," Harry exclaimed, checking his watch, "How did the night go so fast?"
"Fleur's out late," Hermione commented, consulting her own watch. The blonde was out on her own bachelorette party.
There was a scuffling at the door before it burst open and two pretty blondes entered the apartment, arguing in French.
"Speak of the devil," Harry laughed, as Gabrielle and Fleur stumbled to take off their heels and put down their handbags.
"How was the night, love?" Hermione asked, watching with amusement as the drunk Frenchwoman turned her attention from Gabrielle to Harry and Hermione.
"Amaaaazing," Fleur slurred happily, "Bill and Sophia got kicked out of the last bar though."
"What for?" Harry laughed. Gabrielle was off rummaging drunkenly through the fridge in the kitchen now, occasionally knocking items off shelves and onto the floor.
"Zey were getting too handsy," Fleur replied, coming over to straddle Hermione's lap, "It was 'inappropriate,' according to the bartender."
Hermione laughed, amused at the incredibly drunk blonde in her lap.
"Says the woman straddling me in front of her sister and my best mate," Hermione replied. Fleur pouted.
"I'm just sitting! I'm not doing anything!" Fleur retorted, before smiling slyly "Not yet anyway…"
"Fleur! Don't you dare!" Gabrielle called from the kitchen, "If I 'ave to be traumatised by you and 'Ermione one more time—"
"Hope you guys didn't get into too much trouble," Harry interjected, rubbing the back of his neck. He could tell Hermione was in for a handful with two drunk Delacours ready to argue at any moment.
"Fleur stole a bottle of expensive gin from be'ind a bar," Gabrielle tattled from the kitchen, grinning at Harry and Hermione, "Zen passed it around ze group to share."
"Fleur!" Hermione scolded the blonde in her lap, who didn't even look the slightest bit guilty.
"Yeah? Well, then Gabrielle used it to offer body shots off herself," Fleur retorted, sticking her tongue out at her sister, "She even managed to get the bartender to join in."
"Fleur!" Gabrielle gasped, "What 'appened to 'what 'appens on ze bachelorette party stays on ze bachelorette party?!'"
"You told about the gin!" Fleur countered, "Besides, I didn't even tell them about that couple you disappeared to the bathrooms with—"
"Fleur Isabelle! Do NOT!" Gabrielle roared, "Or I'll tell zem about 'ow you vomited in Bill's new 'at!"
Harry and Hermione burst into laughter. Hermione cupped Fleur's face gently with her hand, turning her face from shooting glares at Gabrielle to look at her. Fleur's face softened as she looked at Hermione.
"It was an ugly hat anyway," Fleur defended gently. Hermione smirked.
"You are a handful, has anyone ever told you that?" Hermione grinned. Fleur leaned in and kissed Hermione. She attempted to deepen the kiss and feel Hermione up but Hermione pushed her back gently.
"We have company, remember?" Hermione reminded the blonde. Fleur pouted a little before frowning suddenly.
"I feel ill," Fleur groaned.
"Probably from the monstrous amount you had to drink, love," Hermione teased with a grin, "Come, I'll put you to bed."
"And I'll help Gabrielle with her cooking over there," Harry cut in, slight alarm in his voice as the younger blonde managed to set some uncooked pasta on fire.
Hermione stood up, hoisting the blonde into her arms. Fleur grinned weakly, wrapping her legs around Hermione's back as the brunette carried her to the bedroom. Hermione undressed the blonde and got her into some pyjamas, before fetching her a large glass of water to set on the bedside table.
"I feel siiiick, 'Ermione," Fleur groaned, burying her face into the pillow.
"You're just drunk, Fleur," Hermione comforted, "It will pass. Drink lots of water and get some sleep."
Fleur groaned and wriggled restlessly under the covers. Hermione giggled, getting up and putting the lights out.
"I'll come to bed soon, love," Hermione told her, reaching the doorway, "Just get some sleep."
"I love you so much, Hermione," Fleur said from the bed, her voice muffled by the pillow.
"Love you too, Fleur," Hermione smiled, closing the door and heading back into the living room.