Chapter 2
The music had been playing for hours now, yet no one showed any sign of going home. Even the elderly – Hermione's parents, as well as Molly and Arthur Weasley – gave no sign that they were becoming tired. When he wasn't on the dance floor, Arthur was spending his time talking to Hermione's Muggle family, asking them questions that were getting him very odd, uncomfortable looks. One had even whispered to their neighbour, wondering the type of family Hermione had chosen to marry into. George had been forced to tell them that he was going straight back to the 'nut house' as soon as the reception was over.
Four people who weren't in the mood to dance sat at one of the decorated tables in the function room Ron and Hermione had chosen to hold their wedding reception. Bill slowly tapped his fingers in time to the music, beaming at his two daughters. Victoire danced with her Uncle Ron, giggling, and eleven-month-old Dominque stood by, watching on in curiosity. His wife beside him was shaking her head, and Percy and Audrey opposite them remained very quiet.
"Hermione better watch out," he laughed, as Victoire pushed Ron's new wife away, saying something to her that he couldn't hear. "She's never been so interested in him."
"Bill, maybe we should stop 'er," Fleur said, slightly worried.
"Why? Ron doesn't seem worried."
Fleur sighed, but didn't say anything more. Bill turned his attention away from his children, and to Percy and Audrey who hadn't spoken much throughout the whole day. Percy was staring at the patterns on the tablecloth while Audrey was watching the dance floor with an absent expression.
"Are you two going to tell me your problem?" he asked. "You're both very mopey." He indicated to where Ron was still dancing with Victoire, and Hermione had taken a much happier Dominique into her arms. "You don't approve?"
Audrey looked at him. "What? Of course we approve!" she said. "They've been together for longer than I've known them. I have nothing to disapprove of."
"Then what is it? Wedding not satisfactory enough?"
"It's beautiful," Audrey assured him, and she nudged Percy hard in the ribs. He looked up.
"Oh yeah, it's lovely."
Bill and Fleur watched them for some time, waiting for them to continue. But they didn't.
"Okay, now I'm slightly worried. Is everything okay?"
Audrey shook her head. "Nothing that needs to be discussed today," she said, looking to Percy. "We just have an appointment tomorrow."
"For?"
There was more silence, Percy's attention returning to the tablecloth. Audrey sighed.
"Fertility appointment," she explained.
"Oh." Bill wasn't sure what else to say.
Audrey shook her head. "It's okay," she said. "It's just… we've been trying for some time and nothing's happened, so we're just going to see if there's a reason for that. It's probably nothing to worry about, but we're just going to see a doctor."
"That's awful!" Fleur whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Audrey shrugged. "It's okay. It's just not a good mood to be celebrating in when we're worrying about tomorrow. Oh, and if you could keep it to yourself, we'd really appreciate it. We don't want anyone worrying until we have a definite answer."
Bill and Fleur nodded. "We won't say anything," Bill assured them.
"Thank you."
"And I'm sure it'll all work out. It takes some people longer than others."
Audrey nodded. "I know."
"Okay, Bill, I am going to get Victoire. I think Ron and 'ermione want to dance." Fleur stood up from the table, and Bill watched on in amusement as his wife tried to wrestle their almost three-year-old from clinging onto Ron.
He looked to his brother and sister-in-law. "See what you're missing out on?" he said.
…
"Finally, I get you to myself." Ron pulled Hermione closer to him, hands placed around her waist. "I don't remember when she started liking me."
"She adores you, Ron. How could she not?"
"She's never spoken to me until tonight."
"Oh don't be silly. Remember all those times we would babysit for Bill and Fleur when she was a baby? She knows you better than any of her other uncles."
Ron grunted, no believing her, but didn't push the matter any further. For a while, they didn't speak. They just danced. A dance that was filled with many smiles, much laughing, and plenty of kisses.
"Oh know you too well, Ron. Something's on your mind again. Do you want to stop dancing?"
Instinctively, Ron only pulled her closer, holding her more tightly than he already was. "That's the last thing I want," he told her, his voice soft.
"Then what's bothering you?"
"Nothing… it's kind of stupid now." He made sure to not meet her eye when he said it, and Hermione sighed.
"You'll have to tell me now, you know that right? We're married now."
Ron gave her a crooked grin, and Hermione returned it.
"It's stupid, because it makes no sense. Before… when I was waiting at the church… a small part of me thought you might not just show up. I don't know what it was, but I just thought that…." He paused, swallowing, then, "Well I thought I wouldn't blame you if you didn't show up." He turned away, face burning a deep red.
"Oh, Ron."
"It's silly, I know."
"I don't think it's silly, Ron. Not at all. I'm just curious as to why you would think that, though." They'd stopped dancing now, but everyone was having too much of a good time to notice.
Ron shrugged. "I thought it was too good to be true." He gave another shrug. "I'm sorry."
Hermione smiled at him. "It doesn't matter," she said. "Though, I am a little offended. But I don't want to be angry with you today… of all days."
Ron nodded. "And I don't want you angry with me," he replied.
"Let's just pretend it never happened. It doesn't even matter anymore, because we're both here now, anyway." Hermione stretched to reach his lips, kissing him. "But for the record, I've never felt happier in my life than I do right now."
Ron beamed at her words, returning her kiss. "Neither have I," he said. "Never."
…
Charlie Weasley hadn't spoken to many people at his brother's wedding. In fact, when the wedding invitation had been delivered via owl post to his small flat in Romania, he had been rather surprised. He barely knew Hermione at all, and it was hard to say he remained in frequent contact with Ron, either. But apparently they had wanted him at their wedding, and he had obliged.
Everyone else had brought their own wives or husbands, or were otherwise preoccupied, that Charlie had gone forgotten. Ron was dancing with his new wife, and seemed positively bewildered by the fact that he was able to call her that. Bill and Fleur were chasing around their two runaway children, who'd somehow escaped their grasp once again, while Percy and Audrey, and Harry and Ginny, were sitting together at tables, not looking all that pleased to be there. His brother, George, had been in a deep conversation with some woman for a very long time. Evem his parent seemed to be having a good time, not to mention all the Muggles who had been invited.
"You know, it is okay to smile on an occasion like this." Charlie jumped at the sound of his mother's voice from behind him. He'd been watching Harry and Ginny intently that he'd not heard her approach.
"Hi," he said as Molly sat in the empty chair beside him. "How are you?"
"I am wonderful!" Molly exclaimed. "Look how happy your brother looks! Oh, they'll make each other so happy!" Charlie followed his mother's eyes to where she was watching Ron and Hermione, grunting a response.
"It's a shame I can't say the same for my sister."
Molly gave him a curious look, then glanced to where Harry and Ginny were sitting, looking incredibly unhappy to be sitting beside one another. Harry had his hands over a glass of wine, while Ginny had her back slightly turned, facing away from him.
"Oh dear, it looks like they've had some kind of tiff. They'll sort it out, I'm sure." Molly looked back to her son. "Now tell me, Charlie, is there a reason you hardly write anymore?"
"What?"
"I hardly ever receive a letter from you anymore, Charlie. And when I do, they're brief, and there's not much in them."
"That's because I have nothing to say," Charlie told her. "Nothing much happens in my life. You know that."
"Not even enough for a letter?"
Charlie shook his head. "Sorry to disappoint, Mum."
"Not even anything about a lovely lady in your life? A wedding?"
Charlie snorted. "You're just trying to marry us off one by one, aren't you?" he said, refraining himself from laughing out loud. "Only me and George to go."
"Of course not, dear. I was just curious."
"Well, I can safely say that, no, I have not met anyone, Mother, nor do I plan to in the near future. My job has always been the most important thing in my life – you know that."
"Of course, but you can have both."
This time, Charlie couldn't refrain himself. He rolled his eyes at her. "But I don't want both." He waved a hand in the vicinity of his sister, and her husband. "They look so happy, don't they? Just so delighted to be married."
"It's just a disagreement, Charlie, I'm sure. Generally, they are very happy. And look how happy Ron and Hermione are. And Bill and Fleur with their children."
"Mum!" Charlie groaned. "Please stop."
"I just want you to be happy."
"And I am. I'm happy with my life. I don't need a wife to prove that. Now, please, will you go and hassle one of your other children about this. George, maybe. He's getting pretty cosy with that woman over there. She a Muggle?"
"That is Angelina Johnson," Molly informed him. "A dear friend of his."
From where Charlie was sitting, it looked like more than a friendship, but he also knew George had drunk more than his own bodyweight in the Muggle beer, so maybe that had something to do with it.
"It was nice talking, Mum. See you tomorrow."
Looking slightly hurt, Molly got up from her chair and decided to join Arthur once more. She threw a few concerned glances Charlie's way, but he ignored them. He would apologise to her in the morning. For now, he just wanted to enjoy the remainder of the wedding.
Thanks to Lizy for beating this for me. I hope you liked this chapter, too.
