Chapter Fifteen: Big Steps.
Ginny wasn't in the kitchen or the living room, or any of the other rooms in the whole house, Harry headed to the attic. There she was, like an angel sitting on the old sofa apparently lost in thought.
'Babe' Harry said softly.
She jumped 'Oh, Harry, hi, come and sit down,' she replied patting the sofa next to her.
He went and sat down, she lay down with her head in his lap, and he automatically started stroking her hair, pulling the long red strands through his fingers. Ginny sighed loudly and contentedly.
'What?' Harry said.
'Absolutely nothing' she said smiling up at her boyfriend 'yeah everything is perfect. Well as close to perfect as possible with You-Know-Who back and people dying every day because of it. Sometimes it's hard to think that happy things like weddings and babies exist in the world,' she added.
'I know, it's like we're living in our own little world sometimes' He said.
Ginny nodded and sighed again.
'Gin' Harry said.
'Mmmmhhhhmmmm? She said.
'I want to give you something, I'm not sure you'll take it though' Harry replied.
'We'll see, show me.' Ginny said as she sat up.
Harry showed her the ring.
'But Harry that's your mothers. Are you sure?' She asked understanding what he meant by it.
Harry nodded 'Ginny, I can't imagine my life without you, I'm not saying it has to be tomorrow or even when school's finished I just want to know it'll happen in the future. I love you and with everything so uncertain at the moment I want you, no I need you to be sure of the way I feel about you. Ginny I love you more than anything in the world.' He said.
Ginny didn't say a word; she climbed on to Harry's knee, put her arms around him and kissed him.
'So… Do you want this then?' Harry asked holding up the ring again.
'Yes Harry, I want it,' She answered.
'Merry Christmas' Harry said putting the ring on her finger; it had just passed midnight according to Harry's watch.
'Look Harry!' Ginny exclaimed, digging him in the ribs. He looked at her finger, the ring on it was glowing a bright red!
Harry was overcome with different emotions all at the same time excitement, happiness and love all mixed together; this really was the right thing. He kissed her and she kissed him back with passion.
She pulled away from him 'Oh… No Harry we can't do this here' she whispered.
'What were we doing?' Harry whispered back. He looked at her; he'd started undoing her pyjama top.
'You know where that was leading' she whispered 'believe me I wanted it but look,' she pointed to the crack between the attic door and the floor; there were ten flesh coloured ears under the door crack. Fred and George's extendable ears were useful aids to eavesdropping.
Harry got up, straightened his clothes while Ginny re-buttoned her top then crossed to the attic door and threw it open. Sure enough there were Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, Lupin, Tonks (who were staying there that night), Mr and Mrs Weasley and Ron and Hermione determinedly not looking at each other 'CONGRATULATIONS!' they all shouted together, both Harry and Ginny went red, not because they all knew about the engagement but because they'd very nearly gotten caught in a compromising position.
'Ok everyone, we all need sleep, especially you two' Mrs Weasley said pointing at Ron and Hermione with their backs to each other 'it's time for bed. C'mon everyone, we'll all have time to talk on Boxing Day. Congratulations again you two, goodnight now' she added.
Everyone left to go to bed Hermione ran ahead so as not to come face to face with Ron. Harry walked Ginny to her bedroom door and kissed her again, his fiancé he thought, then she went in and he walked back to Fred and George's room.
Everyone was up late on Christmas day, thankful that the wedding wasn't until that evening. Everyone opened their presents in their rooms. Lunch was odd because Ron and Hermione had to eat at different times so they didn't see each other, when that was over everyone disappeared in different directions to start getting ready. People started arriving at 5pm as the wedding started at 6pm.
Harry was upstairs with Ron who was looking pale; he had to help his mate dress because he was shaking so much. He kept telling Ron to relax and that it'd be over soon but he wasn't listening.
Ginny was helping Hermione get ready. Ginny was already dressed in her blue dress and her hair and makeup were done, her hair was done up in to an elegant bun with wisps of hair hanging loosely down.
Hermione's hair and makeup was also done. Her hair was half up in a bun the rest set in to free falling ringlets, her veil was secured but she was still in her bathrobe and wedding lingerie.
'C'mon Hermione it's nearly time. Get dressed already' Ginny said to her friend.
Hermione shook her head to clear the fog in her mind 'right, get dressed… yeah' she muttered pulling her dress on backwards.
'Hermione that goes the other way around, here' Ginny said fixing her friend 'are you ready?' she said holding out Hermione's bouquet. 'You look gorgeous' Ginny pulled part of the veil over Hermione's face.
Hermione nodded, took the flowers and walked towards the door. As she reached for the door handle Mrs Weasley opened it 'Good, girls, everyone's waiting, you both look absolutely stunning' she said.
As soon as Ron and Hermione saw each other their nerves melted away, they linked arms and lined up behind Harry and Ginny. They'd decided to walk down the isle together rather than separately since Hermione's father wouldn't consent to come and give his daughter away.
Ron and Harry's tux's matched; they wore black pants, shoes, ties and jackets with blue satin shirts and pocket-handkerchiefs. Ginny's dress was the same colour blue as the guys' shirts, it had thin straps that laced up the back, the bodice was fitted to her hips and the skirt was long with a slight train, she had a sheer fabric wrap that matched the dress in colour as it was cold. Hermione's dress perfectly matched the thin layer of fresh snow on the ground in colour and hugged her baby bump, the bodice was embroidered with a slight pattern of stiches the same colour as the fabric so it was not to obvious, the skirt was full and long also with a train, the dress was strapless but she also had a white wrap to match. Her two layered veil was attached to a garland of white flowers and reached to the small of her back the other layer was shorter and pulled over her face, everyone agreed they all looked wonderful.
The music started, Harry and Ginny walked towards the arch that was set up covered in blue flowers where the wizard performing the wedding stood. Flakes of snow were falling softly to the ground that was glistening. At the arch they split apart Harry veering right, Ginny to the left.
The music changed to the wedding march as Ron and Hermione made their way down the isle together smiling widely. At the arch they turned to look at each other holding hands.
'Welcome here tonight and merry Christmas to each and every one of you. We are here this evening to join this couple in the sacred bonds of marriage. Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger stand here before you all, poised at the start of their lives together ready to face anything that gets thrown their way, it will be a long road but together they will make it,' the wizard said. 'Ronald' Ron took a deep breath 'do you promise to love Hermione for the rest of your life, to support her in every situation, to be there in times of joy and sadness, to respect her and be true to your words?'
'I do' Ron said smiling at Hermione.
'Repeat after me. I Ronald Weasley' the wizard said.
'I Ronald Weasley' Ron said.
'Take you Hermione Granger, as my wife,' the wizard said.
'Take you Hermione Granger, as my wife,' Ron repeated.
'I promise to love you'
'I promise to love you' Ron said.
'With everything I am and everything I ever will be' the wizard continued.
'With everything I am and everything I ever will be'
'I will be there for you in every situation'
'I will be there for you in every situation' Ron said after the wizard.
'And overall I promise to keep my vows to you until death parts us' the wizard said.
'And overall I promise to keep my vows to you until death parts us' Ron finished, smiling.
Hermione had tears in her eyes as well as Mrs Weasley, Ginny and most of the other females seated in the Weasley's backyard. 'Hermione' it was her turn to take a deep breath now 'do you promise to love Ronald for the rest of your life, to be supportive of any decision he makes, to be there for him in times of joy and sadness, to respect him and be true to your words?' The wizard said.
'I do,' she said smiling at Ron and nodding slightly.
'Repeat after me. I Hermione Granger' the wizard said.
'I Hermione Granger' Hermione said.
'Take you Ronald Weasley, as my husband,' the wizard said.
'Take you Ronald Weasley, as my husband,' Hermione repeated.
'I promise to love you'
'I promise to love you' Hermione said.
'With everything I am and everything I ever will be' the wizard continued.
'With everything I am and everything I ever will be'
'I will be there for you in every situation'
'I will be there for you in every situation' Hermione said after the wizard.
'And overall I promise to keep my vows to you until death parts us' the wizard said.
'And overall I promise to keep my vows to you until death parts us' Hermione repeated smiling as wide as anything.
'The rings please' the wizard said. Harry and Ginny stepped forward to give the wedding rings to him. He gave Hermione's to Ron and Ron's to Hermione and said 'place these rings on each others fingers' Ron and Hermione put the rings on each other's fingers but not all the way 'repeat together' there was a slight pause 'with this wedding band I bind, my hand to yours and yours to mine' he said.
'With this wedding band I bind, my hand to yours and yours to mine' Hermione and Ron said together smiling and pushing the rings on all the way. They glowed for a minute on their fingers.
'I now pronounce you husband and wife. Take care of each other and remember your vows. You may kiss the bride,' the wizard said.
Ron lifted up the veil covering Hermione's face and kissed her. They made their way back down the isle while people covered them in white and blue confetti. Harry and Ginny followed their friends, each thinking of what their wedding might be like.