Chapter Two

A Weasley Wedding

"I'll never live this down," Ginny Weasley said, staring morosely at the dress.

"It's not…that bad," Hermione said tactfully. "Just a bit…frilly."

"It's hideous!" Ginny threw the dress down on the bed and glared at it. "I'll kill Phlegm!"

"Well, I wouldn't object to that," Hermione said.

"This blows. I hate weddings, I hate Fleur and I hate dresses, especially frilly ones!"

"You've never been to a wedding, how do you know you'll hate it?" Hermione asked sensibly.

"I just know," Ginny sighed. Then, sighing, she fell back on the bed.

"What's the matter, Ginny?" Hermione asked quietly.

Ginny shook her head.

"Is it Harry?" she prompted.

"Well, yeah, sort of," Ginny admitted reluctantly.

"I know he broke up with you."

"Yeah."

Hermione sighed. "I guess I should have seen that coming. It is so Harry. He does stuff like that all the time."

"I know."

"He just cares about you. That's why he did it. It's stupid, I know, but he's been doing things like that since first year. He tried to get me and Ron to stay away, too."

Ginny smiled. "Didn't work, huh?"

"Of course not. We're going along with him. As if he could do it alone," Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Well, I'm glad you and Ron will be there, to stop him from doing anything stupid."

"You could talk to him," Hermione suggested.

Ginny bit her lip. "Nah wouldn't do any good. Besides, I've proven to him I can't handle Voldemort."

"What? Oh…are you talking about the whole…diary thing?"

"Yeah," Ginny said mournfully. "I proved I was a stupid little girl who couldn't handle herself, who nearly got herself killed because she wanted a friend. Harry had to rush in and save me."

"That's not true! You weren't stupid! Besides, Harry let Voldemort trick him too. That's what he DOES, Ginny. Trick people. Besides, that was a long time ago. You were a first year, for goodness's sake!"

Ginny just shook her head.

"I understand Harry. You two will be enough to take care of him. I mean with your brains and Ron's abilities, Voldemort doesn't stand a chance. I'll just hold you back. . And I should finish school. Mum will be stressed enough when Ron tells her he's going off."

"Ron hasn't told your mum yet?" Hermione exclaimed, shocked.

"No. Hey, how'd it go with your parents, anyway?"

"I told them I loved them and I was sorry, hugged them, stuffed a letter in their hand and Disapparated."

"Ah," Ginny said. "Well, it was the best you could do under the circumstances. You'll write to them?"

"Of course."

"Then it's all good."

"I still feel guilty."

"Don't. You did what you had to do."

Hermione grinned. "You're great. I'll miss having you around. Harry and Ron are my best friends in the world, and I wouldn't trade them for anything, but sometimes it's nice to have a girl around. To discuss feelings and things with, you know."

Ginny was silent for a moment.

"Speaking of feelings…" she said. "Thanks for that advice you gave me…about Harry. I don't know how to repay you. You're really good with feelings and things, helping other people out."

"Well…" Hermione blushed. "I just know Harry. I mean, you're funny, you're smart, you're gutsy…I knew he'd like you once he got to know you."

"Well…" Ginny said. "All that aside, I still hate this dress." She held it up for Hermione to look at again.

"I think I read about a charm once that'll fix that-take every frilly think out in one swish of a wand." Hermione laughed.

"Really?"

"Yes. Stand back…"

When Hermione went down to the kitchen the next morning, she found Ron and Harry absolutely PILING food on their plates.

"I love your Mum's cooking," Harry said.

"I love it too," Ron said dreamily. "I'll miss it so."

"You two make me sick," Hermione said, shaking her head and taking a sensible portion. "Besides, if you love you Mum's food so much, take some on the trip, in a case with Refrigeration Charm."

"Brilliant!" Ron exclaimed.

"Yes, it takes a genius like me to come up with an idea like that," Hermione said wearily. She chewed her food thoughtfully.

"So, Ron, Ginny tells me you haven't told your Mum about our little trip yet."

"Er…" Ron said. "Well, I'm waiting for the right moment…"

"Which would be…?"

"Right before we leave?"

Hermione snorted in disgust. "Ginny's right, you are a filthy hypocrite."

"Not true! I'm a very clean hypocrite, thank you!"

"How is Ginny?" Harry asked casually.

"She lives here, Harry, find out for yourself."

"Hermione…."

"Fine, Harry, she's fine," Hermione sighed. "In fact that's probably her coming down the stairs right now."

"Hello all," Ginny yawned, plunking herself down at the table. "Did I hear my name?"

"I was just telling Ron you're right."

"Of course. What was right about?"

"He's a hypocrite."

"You just figured that out? And you're supposed to be smart."

"Very funny," Ron muttered. "D'you know when Fred and George are coming?"

"Tomorrow, along with Charlie. And all the other guests will come the day after. And the day after that, we'll have the wedding."

"Have you seen what Fleur's wearing?" Ron asked casually.

"No. You disgust me, Ron."

"Me too," Hermione added.

Harry, who hadn't said a word since Ginny arrived, quickly finished his meal.

He dumped his plates in the sink and left the kitchen. Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginny, who shrugged, looking depressed. Ron pretended not to notice anything and kept shoveling food into his mouth. Mrs. Weasley came in.

"Hello everyone. Where's Harry?"

"I think he went to his room," Hermione said.

"I see. Ginny, could you come help me with Fleur's dress? I need you to help me pick out the best one."

"Why me?"

"Ginny!"

Ginny followed her mother glumly out of the room, ignoring Ron's gestures to for her to tell him about Fleur's dress later.

"'Ermione. I must talk to you!"

Hermione turned around slowly, suppressing a sigh. "Yes, Fleur?"

"I want 'oo to tell me what you think of zis dress," Fleur called. Her magnificent head was poking out of the doorway down the hall.

"Fleur, you've already gotten Mrs. Weasley's, Mr. Weasley's, Harry's, Ron's, Ginny's and Bill's opinions on the dress."

"Yes. Everyone but you."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but couldn't help being slightly flattered that her opinion mattered at all to Fleur. She walked into the room and examined Fleur. She looked absolutely stunning…almost unnaturally beautiful in the lacey slinky wedding gown. Ethereal.

"You look gorgeous," Hermione said.

"Oh, you are just saying zat."

"Oh course I'm not. Everyone knows you look great, Fleur. You're part veela. You look great in everything, and the dress is pretty, so now you look really great. Can I go now?"

"You really think so?" Fleur asked, examining herself in the mirror.

"YES. Don't rub it in, Fleur."

"What deed you say?"

"Nothing," Hermione said quickly. "Bye."

Hermione ran up to her room, slammed her door and flopped down on her bed. The image of Fleur was still burning in her mind. She would never look like that. Never in a million years. Even at the Yule Ball, she had just looked pretty. As opposed to ugly, which everyone else was used to. And she had spent HOURS getting ready for that. Fleur was unbelievably gorgeous without even trying! In fact, everyone was prettier than her. Ginny, Lavender, Parvati, and Cho…No wonder Ron had chosen Lavender over her. She could still remember his diatribe on not wanting to take an ugly girl to the Ball…she pulled herself together. This was silly. It didn't matter what she looked like, her mind and her heart were what mattered, she knew that, and sure Ron acted like he put looks first, but she knew that was just an act, didn't she? She was fairly sure he liked her. Anyway, she had more important things to worry about.

Decided, she went to find Harry and Ron. But before she went, she couldn't resist looking in the mirror before shaking her head and stalking away.

The next day, Fred and George arrived at breakfast.

"Hello, my dear friends and family," George said in a monotone, immediately grabbing some breakfast. "We are glad to see you all. Except for Ron, of course."

"Shut up," Ron snapped in way of a greeting.

"Hi, you two. How goes the joke shop?" Harry asked.

"Better than ever. Our customers were very disappointed when we said we were closing up for a couple of days. But of course, we couldn't miss seeing Mum completely freak out trying to get ready on time," Fred said.

"And seeing Ginny in a dress. From the way Mum raved about it, it must be horrible," George chortled.

"Not anymore," Ginny said. "Hermione fixed it."

"Hermione! Why do you always have to ruin our fun?" Fred whined.

"Ruining people's fun is her life's mission," Ron commented.

"Oh, be quiet," Hermione snapped, while the others laughed.

Mrs. Weasley bustled in. "Fred! George! Come help me decorate!"

"Honestly, woman, we just got here."

"Which is why you should only be too happy to help. Stop tearing up your bacon, Fred."

"I'm not Fred-"

"Whichever you are! Everyone, finish breakfast and come help!"

She bustled out again.

"It's begun," George said.

"She's in the zone," Fred muttered.

"She just loves bossing us around," George sighed.

"Well, far be it from us to keep her from something she enjoys. Come on, you lot."

And they all got up to help.

"Stop fidgeting, Ron," Hermione hissed.

They were sitting in the second row of chairs outside, waiting for the wedding to begin.

"When's it going to start?" Ron hissed.

"When it does."

"Ah, a Weasley wedding," Fred sighed.

"You'll laugh, you'll cry…"

"You'll ogle Fleur's ass…."

"Would you two shut up?" Harry said.

"No. Our voices drown out the bad music," Fred said.

"Oh, here comes Fleur!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Whoa," Ron gasped.

Hermione had to admit, Fleur looked even better than that time she had shown off her dress for Hermione. She was glowing, her smile radiant, her gown slinky and beautiful, all the boys mouths dropped open in astonishment, even Fred and George's. Ginny and Gabrielle followed. Gabrielle, like Ginny, seemed to have "fixed" her dress; Hermione suspected Fleur had helped her. She hoped Mrs. Weasley wasn't too disappointed that the dresses she picked out had been altered. Ginny looked very pretty, even standing next to Gabrielle. She had a large silk flower in her hair, which was a radiant red, her skin milk white against the glow of the sun. Harry shifted uncomfortably next to Hermione.

A wizard in white robes made Fleur and Bill say their vows, punctuated by the sound of Mrs. Weasley sobbing. When they kissed, Mrs. Weasley positively howled. Bill and Fleur turned to walk back down the path, when suddenly spells began shooting everywhere.

Many things happened at once. Bill forced Fleur down as she screamed. Ginny swore and pulled her wand out of her sash, Hermione herself had her wand tucked in the straps of her sandals, she pulled it out and raised it as chaos reigned, but Harry climbed up on a chair, looked around and appearing to spot someone, shouted "Stupefy!" Apparently he had hit his target because he gave a satisfied nod, grabbed Ron and Hermione's hands and dragged them out of the wedding.

"Harry! Where are we going?" Hermione gasped.

"Out of here," Harry said forcefully. "I dunno who that was, I don't even know if they were a Death Eater, but they were after me. And if I hang around, someone'll get hurt."

"But we have to say goodbye…" Hermione said.

"No. The longer I stay around here, the more people could get hurt. I've caused Mr. and Mrs. Weasley enough trouble."

"They don't mind," Ron assured Harry.

"I just ruined the wedding, Ron!"

"I didn't see you doing anything wrong…" Ron began, but Hermione gave him a warning look.

They reached the edge of the Weasley's property.

"Okay, now we have to summon our stuff," Harry said. "That is, if you want to go. You don't need to-"

"Oh, be quiet," Hermione and Ron said together.

Hermione smiled and raised her wand, but then she saw Ginny running towards them. It looked like someone had caught his or her foot in her dress; it was ripped and had a muddy footprint on it.

"Wait!" Ginny reached them. "Where are you going?"

"We have to get away from here," Harry said. It was the most words he'd said to Ginny since their arrival. "Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah. So you were just going to leave without saying goodbye?"

"We need to-well-I wanted…" Harry stammered.

Ginny shook her head. "Look, can I at least say goodbye?"

Harry relented. "OK."

Ginny hugged Ron.

"Take care of yourself. I love you."

"Yeah, well," Ron muttered, his ears going red. "Me too. Stay out of trouble. And don't get involved with too many boys, seriously, Ginny-"

"Bye, Hermione," Ginny cut him off, hugging Hermione also. "Thanks for being a great friend."

"You too," Hermione replied.

"Be careful. Write to me."

"Of course."

Ginny turned to Harry, who went red. There was a short silence, and then Ginny grabbed him and kissed him.

Ron covered his eyes, while Hermione resisted the urge to giggle.

Ginny broke away from Harry finally and he gaped at her.

"Just so you know I'm not going to disappear from your life and I'm not going to let you boss me around. I still love you. Now go!"

"Oh, no," Ron said in a panic. "I never told Mum!"

"I'll tell her," Ginny said.

Hermione summoned her things. She grabbed her bag and Crookshanks basket out of the air. "I guess Crookshanks is coming with us after all," she muttered, adjusting the basket on her arm.

She grabbed Harry's arm and Ron grabbed his other.

"Bye!" Ginny called.

"See you, Ginny," Harry managed to say.

"Take care," Hermione said.

"Don't snog in the halls!" Ron admonished.

And on that touching note, the three of them disappeared into the swirling blackness.

- To keep your marriage brimming,with love in the wedding cup, whenever you're wrong, admit it;
whenever you're right, shut up.
Ogden Nash