A/N: Hope you guys liked the last chapter. I know it had a kind of rough ending. I'm skipping ahead here. This whole "each chapter is a new day or continuation of the last" is making me struggle with writer's block, so we'll see what happens. I've kind of been dying to get ahead, so here we go. Also know, all of a sudden I'm having random computer issues. This will be a factor in typing. I'd buy a new one, except that my money is for a new car since mine decided to die.

Chapter 24

The Weasley house bustling and busy as they put together the final touches for Bill's wedding. Hermione was glad that despite Ron and Mrs. Weasley's protests, Bill kept her on the invite list, and even offered to invite Severus, as long as he agreed to a power binding charm. Severus agreed, which was why he wasn't going to appear until the last possible moment. He had managed to keep her away from having to go to the deatheater meetings. So far, Hermione only had to deal with the occasional dinner party. She and Narcissa had slowly rekindled the bond they built during the wedding planning.

Severus was waiting until the last possible moment to arrive. Although he agreed to the power binding, he had death-eater duties to attend to and did not like the idea of being powerless. He had made sure to demand that should anything dangerous happen, like a death-eater attack, his powers would no longer be bound. He wanted to be able to protect Hermione, and if he were powerless if and when death-eaters arrived, it would be suspicious.

Hermione brushed Fleur's beautiful blonde hair. She had been asked to do Fleur's hair given her extreme hair taming skills. She felt envious of Fleurs hair. She wondered if her child might get her own wild curls, or Severus' sleek straight hair. She was in her first official month, and it made things interesting. Morning sickness had been hitting pretty hard most mornings. As she twisted Fleur's hair into an updo and placed the final bobby pins that were magically enchanted to stay in place. And just when she thought she was free, she felt the wave of nausea come over her and she ran into the adjacent bathroom, throwing the door closed behind her.

"'Ermione, are you okay," Fleur called out.

Hermione wiped her mouth with a towel and sat back, leaning against the bathtub before responding, "Yes, just a little morning sickness. I should be fine again in a few."

Hermione heaved again and a knock came at the door.

"Come in."

She looked to see Ginny at the door. They hadn't really spoken as much as she would have liked since everything came out and she wasn't sure what exactly Ginny thought of her anymore. She was glad to see a look of caring on her friend's face.

"Severus came by yesterday, insisted on speaking with me. He thought you might appreciate this for today, though he wishes you'd stop putting up with it at home and take the potion there."

"Thanks, Ginny."

"He also said, not to accept anything from my mother. I agree. I think she seriously though about poisoning you at one point."

"That's lovely," Hermione said she drank the potion Severus made for her. There was a reason she didn't want to drink it most of the time, and that was because it tasted bad enough for her to want to throw up anyway. But she wasn't in a mood to deal with it today.

"By the way, I've missed you Hermione. I know this family isn't easy to figure who's on what side, but remember, I'm never on Ron's side. He's nothing but a big old git. Someone's gotta teach him a lesson."

Hermione laughed, "Yeah, well, we kind of did. Or did George not-" Hermione stopped herself. She hadn't spoken to George since the day before rehearsals. She didn't know what to say to him anymore, knowing how he felt. She'd always seen him as a friend. Nothing more and nothing less. A great friend that she wanted to keep in her life.

"He told me about it. I laughed, though glad I missed it. I did not need to see that. He also told me about what happened after. Once again, git. He failed to mention he and Angelina broke up again. He meant what he said, he has feelings for you, but he was just upset then."

"Yeah, he's never been really sensitive with that stuff."

Ginny and her laughed together and then walked out of the bathroom.

"By the way, I love your dress Hermione, where did you get it?"

"I couldn't tell you. Severus picked it out for a date a while back."

"Damn, who knew the old bat had taste."

Hermione chuckled. She hadn't heard that nickname in a while.

"I'd watch your tongue Ms. Weasley. I could deduct points the second you walk through the castle doors."

The girls turned to see Severus standing behind them.

"Severus, when did you get here," Hermione asked, holding back from giving him a hug. She didn't want to set off Ron or Mrs. Weasley if either of them saw. She was happy to have gotten to know him, and she finally was feeling comfortable to embrace him. She wasn't in love. Not yet. But they had finally started bonding, and sometimes, it felt nice to just hug him. But she couldn't just now.

"Just now. The ceremony is going to start momentarily, right? Ginny, may we have a moment alone."

"You don't have to ask me twice, professor," Ginny said with a hint of sarcasm as she left the room.

Severus closed the door and grabbed Hermione pulling her close. He still couldn't tell if the affection he felt for her was genuine or simply because she carried his child, but he did know he was protective of her. He had seen so much of her sensitive side, that he knew even the brave lioness of Gryffindor needed protecting. He hated when she was alone, especially in a house full of people who were possibly hostile towards her. He pressed his lips to her head.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine, Severus. So far everyone but two people have been lovely, and I am easily able to avoid Ron and his mother. Now, we might want to hurry up before one of them comes to make sure everyone is ready. Besides, we should probably take our seats."

She opened the door and they walked down the stairs together, her arm in his. They were publically married and had to keep up appearences. Although it had gotten easier, Hermione still felt self-conscious about their outings, wondering what people were thinking.

They sat down, and Hermione giggled when she saw Ron escorting his least favorite aunt to her seat. The amount of suffering he causes for others with his temper, he deserved it. Then she waited. The only wizarding wedding ceremony she had ever attended was her own, and it wasn't exactly traditional. She was curious how they would vary.

Fleur walked down the aisle, absolutely stunning in her dress with a smile that showed her true happiness. Hermione felt robbed of the experience of a joyful wedding. Though she found herself as content as she could be in a marriage that she was more or less forced too. And although she was terrified, the thought of being a mother soon was growing on her. She and Severus actually had an appointment in about a week.

The ceremony in itself was beautiful and touching. And everyone was happy and celebrated as they were pronounced man and wife and kissed.

A/N 2: I want you to know, this chapter was almost destroyed a few times, not by me, but by the computer. My laptop has started bugging out lately. Time to do regular backups to my external harddrive and once I buy a new car, replace my laptop. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. Next, the disaterous reception. Will Hermione forgive Severus for not warning her? Who knows