A/N: Sorry it took so long. Typing it up is such a pain in the butt.

Harry Potter and the Last Journey

Chapter 4—The Wedding

After a few days, the wedding was finally here. The morning of the wedding was chaos. Last minute touch ups on the house and backyard with flowers and organizing the chairs into neat rows. By 11:00 Harry was tired from running around everywhere following orders from Mrs. Weasley.

There were people running everywhere fixing things that went along with the wedding preparations. And people were arriving by the minute that Harry didn't even know, but judging by the red hair they were Weasleys. He was stopped several times by people who shook his hand enthusiastically because they had met 'Harry Potter.' Harry had to ask Ron who everyone was because they came by so fast.

Harry sat down in one of the chairs that were lined up in aisles in the backyard and looked around in awe. Ron and Hermione soon joined him. "Seeing this done is too overwhelming. I don't know if I want to get married," Harry said dryly, as he watched Bill run by asking if anyone had seen his bow tie.

"It's not that bad," Hermione said, "After everything is done and in order. It's utterly perfect," she said with a dreamy sigh.

Ron and Harry exchanged looks of bewilderment. "It's all a big mess to me," Ron muttered under his breath to Harry, who nodded.

"No kidding, and I thought the Yule Ball was bad," Harry replied softly but Hermione overheard.

"You just don't see the beauty in the joining of two people in love," Hermione said flatly, eyes blazing.

"It's not that, just the whole…" Ron gestured with his hands around him, "process." He finished lamely.

"Well, you two will know about the whole thing and how wonderful it is when you get married," Hermione said.

"Yeah, depending if I survive this," Harry said dryly.

Hermione immediately sobered up and looked at Harry with tears in her eyes, even Ron's smile disappeared. Harry looked between the two and realized his mistake with words and put his hands up.

"Wait! That's not what I meant," Harry said frantically, "I-I meant…" Harry broke off as Hermione threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly with a small sob.

"Hermione," Harry exclaimed his voiced muffled. Hermione pulled back a little and settled down in his lap her eyes over bright. "I just meant this day. With the Wedding," Harry said weakly.

Hermione smiled lightly, "I'm sorry. It's just…when you said that…I thought," she tried to smile but couldn't and a tear made a track down her cheek.

Harry lifted a finger and gently wiped in away, "I'm sorry. I should watch what I'm saying."

"It's okay," she whispered and hugged him again and he hugged her back, and then gave Ron a slight smile, which he returned.

"Okay, get off of me. We have to get ready," Harry said patting her leg.

"Oh! Sorry," Hermione said blushing and got up. And all three of them went to get ready.

Harry had never been to a wedding before and had no idea what to expect. After everything settled down and the wedding started, it was truly wonderful like Hermione had said. By 3:pm the wedding was over with Bill and Fleur happily married and it was time for the reception. Tables and a buffet to one side and also a dance floor magically made from hardwood replaced the chairs. There were a few moments of panic when no one knew if the wedding cake was done, but it arrived a minute later. Other than that everything was fine.

At the party Harry and Ron where sitting at a table to the side watching the nights festivities. Hermione was currently dancing with Ron's brother Charlie and was having the time of her life.

"Why does this seem vaguely familiar?" Harry asked tapping his cup with his finger before taking a sip.

"I don't know," Ron replied with a bored tone and thought for a moment, "Oh, I know. Yule Ball."

"That's right," Harry agreed nodding his head, remembering.

They both looked up as Hermione sat down across from them slightly breathless. "Come on you guys. Have some fun! Dance with me. Ron?" she said.

Ron sunk in his seat with his ears turning red, "No thanks," he mumbled.

Hermione's smile faltered but brightened as she turned to Harry, "How about you Harry?"

"No thanks. I don't want to," Harry said.

Hermione looked put out. She knew Ron was as stubborn as a rock, but Harry could be persuaded, he just needed a little push, and Ron was sure to follow easily afterward. That's it, she thought, my goal for tonight is to make both of them dance with me, and I'll start with Harry.

"Come on Harry! Dance with me. It will be fun," she pleaded. Harry shook his head.

5 minutes later Harry still hadn't given in, but was obviously starting to get annoyed. She was didn't want to do that because it would put him in a bad mood for the rest of the night. She was getting desperate.

Hermione looked around and spotted Ron's cousin Rick from across the dance floor. She suddenly had an idea. As they say 'Desperate times, call for desperate measures,' she thought and decided to go for Harry's weak spot.

"Come on Harry please," she whispered, "I don't want to go out there by myself. Ron's cousin looks like he wants to rip me open."

That seemed to have done the trick. She knew that Harry was extremely protective of her and would do anything to keep her safe. Harry chose that moment to look over a t Rick and saw that her was practically drooling as he watched Hermione in her low cut dress.

Harry grinned his teeth together; he didn't like it. He glanced at Hermione who had a desperate look on her face then back to Rick. "Fine," he said flatly.

Hermione's face lit up and she mentally cheered for her victory.

Harry stood up and took Hermione's hand then turned to Ron and gave him a look that told him outright to keep his mouth shut. Ron laughed at the look Harry had on his face. He had given in to Hermione's endless pleading and had to go dance, but he didn't have to enjoy it. So he sat back and watched them while watching Rick in the corner of his eye.

Out on the dance floor Harry led Hermione in a perfect waltz. His steps were perfect and on time; he didn't even step on her feet. She was amazed that Harry could move with such grace, she was the one that had to keep up with his quick movements and sharp turns. But best of all, he looked like he was having fun.

After a couple of minutes of waltzing around the dance floor, the music ended and Harry dipped her perfectly. Hermione looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow and he gave her a slight smile and led her back to their table.

"Bloody hell Harry!" Ron exclaimed who had been watching them in amazement.

"I thought you said you didn't know how to dance," Hermione said breathlessly.

Harry flushed, "I didn't say I didn't know how, I said I didn't want to," he mumbled.

"Just one of your rare talents then," Hermione asked lightly and laughed when Harry gave her an embarrassed yet threatening look.

"Well, where did you learn?" Ron asked.

Harry turned a bright shade of pink and lowered his head, "From the Dursleys," he replied.

"The Dursleys taught you," Ron asked incredulously.

"No," Harry said getting over his embarrassment, "It was through the YMCA near our house. When I was 6 or 7, I forget, but my aunt signed Dudley up for swimming lessons. Before we could leave the lady at the desk asked if I wanted to join anything."

"So you joined an dance class," Ron said with a smirk.

"I didn't exactly have a choice. My aunt didn't want it to look like she was neglecting a child, and the dance class was free because not many people had signed up," Harry explained, "So I was stuck there everyday. Away from my cousin, thank god. He probably would have tried to drown me if I had taken swimming lessons with him."

"So you learned to dance because it was free," Hermione stated.

"Yup. Aunt Petunia didn't want to waste any money on me and didn't think it was very important for me to learn. Plus it got me out of her hair for a couple of hours," Harry said with a shrug.

"That's preposterous!" Hermione exclaimed, "Every child should know how to swim."

"I think my aunt and uncle were hoping that I would drown of something," he said taking a sip from his cup.

"That's not funny,"

"I didn't say it was."

"That's unfair," Ron whispered.

"I know. But I can't say that I didn't have fun. I met a few people, but I was a shy kid and didn't talk very much so they pretty much left me alone. And that was the way I liked it," Harry said, "Though I don't know what use it is."

"It comes in handy at parties and balls," Hermione said brightly.

"Yeah, but I don't like to dance," Harry said flatly.

"Why, because it shines the spot light on you because your so good?" Ron asked with a smirk. But when Harry flushed he knew that was the exact reason why.

"If I had stood out with my Aunt and Uncle, I was punished. Now I'm constantly being looked at because of my scar. It's a big change from being completely ignored to having everyone watch my every movement. So I like to keep to the sidelines thank you," Harry replied.

"So what. Were here with friends and dancing it fun. You said so yourself," Hermione said.

"So?"

"So! Let's go dance again."

"No thanks," Harry hesitated, "Maybe later."

Hermione immediately brightened up, "Okay, I'll keep you to that. Ron how about you?"

"No way," Ron replied.

"Come on Ron it's fun. Harry was brave enough to go out there," Hermione said, laying out the bait. Hook, line…

Ron fidgeted and glanced at Harry who had flushed pink again, "Fine," he snapped and got up holding out his hand.

Hermione smirked and took the offered hand. …and sinker.

The party ended a little past midnight and everyone went home. Hermione had succeeded in making both boys dance and they had fun doing it. She hadn't let either of them sit back down for the rest of the night, only to rest before going back out again. But now they sat awake and alert in Ron's room waiting for everyone to go to bed. Mrs. Weasley was doing last minute cleaning and had to be pulled out of the kitchen by Mr. Weasley, telling her to go to bed and that they'll deal with it in the morning.

By 2am everyone was asleep. They gathered up their stuff and creped down stairs. Leaving the note they had put together on the table, they stepped out into the cold night air. They looked back at the house that they weren't sure if they were going to see it again, then turned to each other and nodded; it was time to go.