Author's Notes: I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has reviewed. I really do appreciate it, PLUS it allows me to clear up any misunderstandings that may crop up.
For example, someone pointed out that, in my story, Ron seems to have matured quite a bit. Granted, I am using some creative license with things that don't belong to me (see disclaimer above), but I really think that we should expect this. Ron, Harry, and Hermione aren't children anymore. They are practically grownups. For the purpose of this time line, they are all over 17 and therefore considered "of age." Plus, Ron, specifically, went through a significant number of changes in HBP. I theorize that these experiences will have him acting more like an adult than we have seen previously. Of course, this is only my take on the subject. I would very much like to hear what you dear readers have to say.
Anyhow, I hope you are enjoying things so far. I should point out that "If You Can" will only cover our heroes seventh (and final) school year. (Sorry, Gin) Another story, giving accounts of the War and its aftermath in greater detail will immediately follow the last chapter of "IYC." I am actually more excited about that one, but we have to get through school first.
Since he finally gets some dialogue in this chapter, we will feature Harry's theme (Precious by Depeche Mode) here. Enjoy!
True to Ron's prediction, Hermione was able to get Harry and Ginny to at least be on speaking terms within a few days. There were still some tense moments, and they didn't exactly want to be together all the time, but at least they were willing to be in the same room. Hermione and Ron decided they would take what they could get and be thankful for the little things.
The day of Bill and Fleur's wedding dawned bright and mild. Worried that everything would not be done in time, Molly had everyone up by half six. Ron and Harry, still a bit hungover from the bachelor party the night before, were less than thrilled to be awake and helping to organize nuptial bliss at such an hour.
By 10am, everyone had re-showered and was now putting on their party clothes. Harry and Hermione had never been at the Burrow when everyone was in residence. To say that it was crowded was a ridiculous understatement. Thankfully, someone had had the foresight to conjure another bathroom for the ladies to use. Also, thankfully, Fleur would be arriving later with her family, already fully dressed and coifed.
Harry and Ron stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting for their best friend to come down. Ginny, a bridesmaid, had already gone ahead to the back yard, where the ceremony would take place, to try to coordinate her future sister-in-law's bridal entrance.
"Are you going to sit around up there all day?" shouted Ron in exasperation at the bottom of the stairs.
"If you keep goading me, then I might!" replied something that sounded suspiciously like Hermione's voice.
"You're going to miss the whole thing!"
"Alright, alright, keep your pants on; I'm on my way down."
"You know, she never takes this long at school…" Ron muttered angrily. Harry just smiled slyly to himself. Those two have been acting more and more…
Footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Finally!
Hermione breezed down the stairs to meet her friends. Well, even though she hated to admit it, she was particularly interested to see what one of those friends thought of how she looked.
Ron's mouth hung open. Hermione wore a light purple dress that resembled what Greek Goddesses were always depicted wearing. It was decorated with silver cording and she wore a silver pendant in the shape of a butterfly around her neck. Never trusting her hair, she had put it up in a French twist, with little wisps coming down to frame her face. She even had strappy, heeled shoes to complete the ensemble.
She couldn't help it. She looked right at Ron.
All he could do was stare at her.
Her face fell and she sighed a little. Well, that's that, she thought.
"You look very beautiful, Hermione," said Harry, saving the day once again. Hermione finally turned to look at him.
"Thank you, Harry," she looked him over, "and don't you look handsome!" Harry had on a dark suit to match his dark coloring. The color in his tie brought out the green in his eyes. Feeling braver, she glanced at Ron. "You seem to have cleaned up well, Ron."
He thought his collar was going to strangle him. As one of the groomsmen, Ron had to wear formal dress robes, complete with vest and fancy tie, despite the fact that it was August. Although she didn't want to give him the satisfaction, Hermione thought Ron looked incredibly good. Like a grownup man, she thought. She hoped to God she wasn't drooling.
"Thanks," was all he could manage. He cleared his throat, "you look nice too."
"Thank you," replied Hermione dryly.
"Well, I think it's just about time for us to get going," said Harry. He offered Hermione his arm in a flamboyant gesture, "My Lady?"
Hermione giggled, "Thank you, kind sir." And they walked out the door together.
In that moment, Ron wondered if any one else had ever had the desire to rip off their best friend's arms and beat said friend to death with them.
The handfasting ceremony seemed to take forever. The entire company was just glad that the weather held out and no one expired from heat stroke. By dusk, everyone had eaten and the bridal couple had departed for their Honeymoon in Scotland. The rest of the guests remained behind to enjoy dancing and another, smaller meal at the very end of the night.
Harry looked more relaxed than Hermione had seen him in two years. His smiles came easily again and he realized that things still were actually funny. She had almost forgotten what his laughter sounded like. She stood off to the side and watched the boy that she loved like a brother swing Ginny around the dance floor. Harry wanted to put all his lessons to good use, but Hermione had finally begged off, her feet throbbing from someone, who would remain nameless, accidentally stomping on them for three hours. Harry had somehow screwed up enough liquid courage to ask Ginny to dance. His partner, whose brothers had found it reasonable to allow her to drink, was sloshed enough to allow him to be within ten feet of her.
Hermione sighed. Perhaps all is not lost after all.
"Feet hurting you, eh?" said a voice from behind her. She turned and saw Ron standing there, robes gone, tie undone, and the top of his shirt unbuttoned.
"I'm not used to these shoes," she tried.
"Yeah, right. Your toes aren't used to getting walked on, more like," he replied as he came up to stand beside her.
"You know, you're a fine one to talk, I haven't seen you dancing. At least Harry's brave enough to try...even if he is really bad at it." They looked at each other and chuckled.
"Maybe I was just waiting for my partner to be free," he turned and looked right at her.
"Too bad for you, Fleur already left," Hermione said dryly.
"Come off it, you know I meant you."
"Did you?" she turned now to face him, arms crossed over her chest.
"Well, there's only one way to find out…" he bowed slightly and walked towards the dance floor. She was too astonished to do anything but follow him. When she finally caught up with him, he opened his arms and she stepped in. She tried to relax, and figured that she would let him lead for a few minutes, and then, most likely, she would have to take over, to save her poor feet.
"Didn't anyone tell you that you aren't supposed to look more beautiful than the bride on her wedding day?" Ron said, looking down into Hermione's face. She stared up at him and nearly tripped.
"No. Who taught you that line, Bill?" Ron chuckled.
"No, actually Bill was a little preoccupied today," she continued to look at him, "ok, it was Charlie."
"Oh, well remind me to thank him for the compliment later on."
"Hey!"
"I'm kidding, Ron. That's the second nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"What was the first?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"That I am a genius." They smiled at each other.
"Well, I was right on both counts." Hermione had to look away. His smile made her heart hurt. He was being extremely unfair to play around with her like this. Noting the direction of her eyes, Ron sighed.
"Looks like those two are getting along much better," she commented, desperate to change the subject. She was still rather amazed that he was leading her around without stepping on her or loosing the tempo.
"I told you you could do it," Ron said quietly. He decided to try a little experiment. He pulled her a tiny bit closer.
"Do you think they'll get back together?" he asked quickly, trying to distract her from the fact that he was making a move.
"Eventually," she replied, "but it might not be for a very long time."
"How can you be so sure?" he asked, pulling her closer again.
"Because," without thinking, she closed the distance between them and put her exhausted head on his shoulder, "some things are meant to be."
Off to the side, the two people that Ron and Hermione had been studying were discretely studying them back.
"Oh, now she just put her head on his shoulder," Harry whispered to his accomplice.
"Holy God," replied Ginny, "they really have made a great deal of progress in a short time, haven't they?"
"And here I thought that I was going to have to lock them in the Room of Requirement for their own good," Harry chuckled.
"Do you really think this is a good idea, or would we be safer with super-frustrated Ron and Hermione? At least then we know what we are dealing with…" Ginny asked, worried.
"Everything will work out fine," replied Harry, looking down into her face and stepping on her toe in his distraction.
"Ouch!"
"Oh, Ginny, I am sorry."
"That's all right, I do believe that I have one toe left that's not broken. Why don't we go get some punch and take a rest?"
"Sounds good to me." And they walked off the dance floor.