Hi sorry its taken so long but i got there eventually.

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Usual disclaimers apply - i don't get nowt!

Enjoy

Chapter Three

Harry woke early to the sounds of birds tweeting and chirping, mocking his mood. It was the day of the wedding and Harry was planning to disappear for a while. To be at the other side of the country, anywhere but within hexing distance of the Burrow, just in case he had a change of heart.

There was part of him that wanted the torture of seeing Hermione saying "I do" to another man. He wondered if the pain would be enough to drive him to lunacy.

Lunacy seems like a pleasant sort of place to live right now, he thought to himself.

Dragging himself out of the warmth of his bed Harry padded into the bathroom and started the shower. His mind drifted subconsciously back to Tuesday night. Knowing that Ron always went out with the lads on that particular evening every week he hoped that it would still be going on and so he took a chance and apparated to see Hermione.

Luckily he had been right and Ron wasn't there. Unfortunately he ended up having to answer a barrage of questions about why he wasn't with them.

"I don't understand Harry, you and Ron always go out together Tuesday's and meet up with Fred, George, Dean, Seamus and Neville. So why is tonight any different?" Hermione harassed him so much he almost cracked and explained the whole damned thing to her, but he managed to satisfy her by saying he just wanted to spend time with her, being his best friend, and that probably it would be the last time for a long time that they would be able to spend any time together.

She hadn't seemed totally happy about his answer but at least she stopped demanding to know why he wasn't out with the others.

"So," Harry began after they were settled with a glass of wine and a pizza, "are you all ready for Saturday? Everything sorted? No last minute details to confirm?"

"Everything is totally going to plan, I must admit that I expected something horrendous to happen, but it all seems to be going okay." Hermione told him, crossing her fingers as if to repel any bad luck.

"Good. With all your organisational skills I would expect nothing but perfection from this wedding." Harry teased her with a wink.

"Harry!"

"You know I'm only kidding 'Mione, I'm sure it'll be a beautiful ceremony." Harry admitted truthfully.

"Well, you'll soon find out won't you. Hey, do you want to see something amazing?" She jumped up suddenly and without waiting for a reply she dashed down the hall and into her bedroom. Harry heard rustling and then nothing.

He waited at least five minutes before she returned. He heard her coming back down the hall towards him and as he looked up his breath was knocked from his body.

She was in her wedding gown.

She was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on. He could speak, the words failed him. He blinked trying to kick his brain into gear, but nothing wanted to work. He was paralysed. Wanting to do nothing else but look at the vision before him for the remainder of his life.

"Harry? Are you alright Harry?"

Her voice dragged him back into reality and he shook his head clear. "Sure. I'm fine."

"Am I that hideous that I make you black out?" She smiled, teasing him.

His eyes caught hers and held them. "You look…stunning."

She beamed after hearing his words, "Thank you, Harry. So you think Ron will like it too?"

"If he doesn't drop dead from the sight of you on Saturday then he isn't the right guy for you 'Mione."

"Oh don't say that, I actually want to marry him, not just bury him!" She groaned mockingly.

"Seriously Hermione, you look amazing…beautiful…I never thought -,"

"What?" She interrupted him, "That I could look like a girl?"

Harry knew she was still self-conscious and that she never truly believed herself to be worthy of any attention she received. He got to his feet and walked towards her. He placed his hands on her arms and as she looked up at him with her questioning brown eyes he almost melted before her.

"Listen to me," He began after clearing his throat, "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing."

She shook her head and breathed out, "I'm not."

"Yes you are. You're beautiful inside and out 'Mione…and I'll always-," He paused unsure of whether he wanted to say the words.

"You'll always what, Harry?"

Did he tell her that he loved her, or fob her off with some other lame tale? If he was to say the three little words he longed to utter for so long what on earth would she say? Four days before she was to marry Ron!

But if he didn't say it she would probably never know how he felt. The ultimate question was would he be ready to give up his friendship with her if she loathes him for his feelings?

"I'll always be here for you, I couldn't live without you…I love you…you're my best friend!"

"Best friend…right!" Hermione pulled away, the expression in her eyes unreadable.

Harry watched as she retreated back to her bedroom. What just happened? She appeared to be disappointed that he'd called her his best friend – what was she expecting him to say?

He thought back to the conversation.

What was that look in her eyes when he'd said those three words? A look of encouragement, expectancy…whatever it was has vanished faster than Ron's food! But still it was strange.

She was changing out of the dress and he knew that the moment had passed. The moment he had been waiting for, for so long, had been upon him and he still couldn't gather his Gryffindor courage and tell his best friend how he really felt.

He was undeniably ashamed, and incredibly angry with himself.

Doesn't Hermione deserve to know the truth? His inner voice asked him

Of course she does!

So tell her!

I can't! She'll hate me – never speak to me again!

How can a wimp like you be the so-called saviour of the Wizarding World!

"Arrgh!" Harry bellowed, fisting his hair in frustration.

Hermione reappeared moments later, in her pyjamas, looking at Harry with a worried expression as she folded her arms and leant on the doorframe.

"Are you alright?" She asked him.

Upon hearing her voice he visibly relaxed, his hands falling back down to hang by his hips. He nodded unable to bring his head up to look at her. Obviously his previous actions concerned her, which meant that she at least didn't hate him.

"Right…well, we still have that movie if you'd like to watch it?" She offered, padding past him into the living area of the flat.

Harry waited until she passed before answering, "I think it'll be best if I just went home, don't you?"

"If you want…" She began, but then changed her mind. "Harry, look, I'm sorry about before I just…well, I wanted to know if you…that is I was wondering if…" She turned to face him. "Have you ever had feelings for me Harry?"

The bottom nearly fell out of his world. She knew. She knew how he felt but chose Ron anyway.

Yeah, well what does that tell you? The voice returned.

It's too late!

"Too late for what?"

Oh Merlin he'd said that out loud. Damn it, it was only supposed to be in his head!

"Too late for what, Harry?" Hermione grabbed his arms and demanded to know what he was babbling about.

Taking a deep breath he said, "It's too late to talk about that now."

"Why? Why is it too late?" She cried, furiously wiping her fresh tears away.

"Because you're marrying Ron." He stated simply before turning and apparating away before he could say anything he'd later regret.

So Harry spent the day of the wedding in Hogsmeade.

He supposed that everyone he knew would be at the Burrow and took a chance that nobody would approach him if he scowled enough.

After apparating outside the Shrieking Shack shortly after nine thirty he trudged slowly into the village, kicking stones and bits of dirt as he went. He thought back to the happier times he had spend wandering around Hogsmeade with both of his best friends. Those had been the days, not exactly carefree, but they had been a welcome release from the threat of Lord Voldemort that always seemed to be around at Hogwarts. It had been like a whole new world to Harry. Something which nobody could have taken away – his freedom.

He visited all the old haunts, Honeydukes sweet shop, Zonko's joke shop and the Three Broomsticks, where he had his lunch, were just a few.

Harry's heart thundered constantly against his chest the whole day. The feeling of bunking off lessons loitered vaguely in the back of his mind, but it was the reality that Hermione, the only person he truly loved, was marrying somebody else that gave him the sense of dread he hadn't felt since the battle with Voldemort.

All his life he seemed to lose whomever was the recipient of his love at that time. His parents first, and then Sirius to Voldemort and his sodding war. He lost Cho to Cedric and then lost Ginny to the war also. But now, he had lost Hermione to Ron, and that hit Harry hard.

It wasn't even the Ron he had grown up with, he was different now, more of a playboy than the bumbling teenager who stood by his side throughout the worst years of his life.

The fame of being the best friend of the Golden Boy of the Wizarding world was too much of a temptation for Ronald Bilius Weasley. All the interviews, society appearances, photo opportunities, freebies and, of course, the girls was everything he had ever dreamed of and more. Coming from a very large family with very little money would do that to you.

So he answered every invite, appearing at everything from the Ministry Ball to the opening of an envelope, accepted every free gift he was offered and went home with every girl who asked, more or less.

One could say he was a lucky guy.

Harry would say he was a prick!

Nevertheless, here he was newly married to the brightest witch of her age, and about to go off on honeymoon to Paris.

Harry's absence had yet to be mentioned by his new wife. He knew she was incredibly hurt by the fact he hadn't shown up but she had managed to cover her feelings well. She had smiled and blushed and cried during the service. He, meanwhile, was relieved.

Obviously she realised that she had most definitely chosen the right friend! He told himself smugly.

Once the goodbyes had been said, they apparated to a Wizarding hotel on the outskirts of Paris and settled themselves into the honeymoon suite, where upon their arrival they were greeted with champagne and strawberries.

The main room was a fair size with a three piece suite, writing desk, and dining table and chairs. There were two doors leading off opposite sides of the main room, one being a very spacious bathroom with two person sunken tub and a larger than average shower cubicle, the other room was the bedroom. The bed was a huge four poster covered in black silk sheets and there was a balcony over looking the street below.

With a flick of her wand Hermione had unpacked their cases and put a silencing charm around the room. She turned to her new husband who had poured the drinks and asked him the question he had been dreading.

"So, where the hell was he?"

Ron almost spat out his mouthful of bubbly at her bluntness. "How the bloody hell should I know!"

"You two haven't spoken for ages – have you fallen out again? It must be bad for him to miss our wedding Ronald!"

Ron sighed, he hated it when she called him Ronald!

"Look all I know is that he didn't show. Luckily Dean agreed to step in and be best man at short notice. I don't know why he wasn't there Herms." He sidled up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Now can we please get back to the job in hand?"

"If you don't tell me the truth there'll be no job in any hand! And don't call me Herms!" She snapped pushing him away. "Why wasn't he out on your stag do on Tuesday night?"

"What – he was – pissed as a three-legged Hippogriff an' all!"

"How can you lie to me so easily, Ron? I know he wasn't there because he came to see me at the flat." Hermione walked to the large window, which had a stunning view of the city.

"Oh, did he now!" Ron considered, "And why would he do that?"

She shrugged, "He said it would be the last time we'd get to spend any time together."

""Well, maybe he was right."

Hermione turned to him narrowing her eyes, "What?"

"Well you're my wife now, Mrs Ronald Weasley…and as soon as we start having kids there'll be no time for anything else will there?" He downed the champagne from the flute and proceeded to fill it up again.

"That's Mrs Hermione Granger-Weasley, and I don't plan on having any children yet thank you very much!" She stated, trying to keep her temper in check.

"But that's what Weasley women do – have kids!"

"Yes well, therein lies the problem Ronald…I am not a Weasley woman…I am a Granger."

Ron took that moment to explode with anger. "No you are a Weasley – and I'll be damned if I'm going to let him ruin our wedding night!" He began pacing the room. "So what if he threatened me! Telling me that if I don't look after you he'll take you off me – I'd like to see him bloody well try it!"

Hermione had only listened up until 'take you off me', after that she had sort of blank everything else out.

He did have feelings for her.

But Harry had been right when he had refused to discuss it the other night…it was too late. But she had longed for him to tell her for so long. If he had she would never have married Ron.

" – I'm the one who won this time Harry bloody Potter…she's mine now!"