Last Request

By: pengz

Disclaimer: Don't own much but the clothes on my back, really. :

A/N: While reading this 'fic, please disregard the Epilogue. I liked it, it just doesn't fit with my 'fic is all.

These memories are a jumble of Hermione's and Ron's, they reveal thoughts left initially unexpressed.

Prologue Part Three: The Wedding

Ron was sure, very sure that he and Hermione had Harry fooled unto thinking something was going was sparking between him and their bookish friend. It was practiced flirting, really, nothing as complex as a new spell in school. Ron had not spent much time thinking about it as he was preoccupied by Bill and Fleur's impending nuptials. The fruits of everyone's collective labors culminated on the first sunny afternoon of August.

A squirmy feeling played along his skin as he entertained the thought of dancing with Luna later on, during the reception, leaving Hermione to "casually", or so he hoped it would seem as such, to get partnered up with Fred. He was pulled from these happy thoughts when he heard Fred speaking as they awaited the arrival of the guests.

"When I get married, I won't be bothering with any of this nonsense. You can all wear what you like, and I'll put a full Body-Bind Curse on Mum until it's all over

Ron almost said something about Hermione not letting such a thing happen but caught himself just in time. He caught George's eye, who seemed to be thinking along the same lines as his younger brother, just as the other twin began to reply.

"She wasn't too bad this morning..."

"She's great, isn't she? Always good value." Ron was smiling and intending to ask Luna to dance properly with him when Viktor Krum took Luna's recently vacated seat.

After exchanging words with the Quidditch star about Xenophilius, Ron decided he'd rather he have the chance to dance with Hermione. That way he could possibly have Fred take her from him and it would look quite natural. The things he did for Hermione and Fred.

"Come and dance." Ron said. He knew the request was abrupt but he managed to get Hermione to her feet and onto the dance floor quick enough.

"Smooth." Hermione muttered with a small smile to Ron.

"I do what I can." Ron shrugged nonchalantly. "Let's find Fred, I'll be he's already looking for you."

"No, let's dance for a while, shall we? Don't want to make it look like a handoff, do we?"

"Suppose not."

They wove gracefully between other couples for good measure. Glancing back to where they had left Harry with Viktor, Ron noticed his best friend was no longer accompanied by that great Bulgarian prat and was staring off in the general direction of Ginny, far from himself and Hermione. He suddenly regretted shouted Harry into not letting another "moment" occur with his sister: Had he not, Harry would be too preoccupied to notice a switch in partners. He then searched out Luna and Fred and was surprised to see the very same people approaching him and Hermione, dancing as well.

"All right there, Hermione? Ron not bloodying up your toes yet, I hope?" Fred said smirking at his younger brother.

"I dance just fine, Fred." Ron replied rolling his eyes as Hermione smiled nervously at Fred.

"Nevertheless, I would like to relieve you of my lumbering little brother, if you'll have me." Then added for, Luna's benefit though she wasn't even paying very much attention to him, "Ron, you'll be good to Luna here. I won't have her crying to me about your lack of proper dancing abilities."

Now it was Hermione's turn to smirk, knowing full well that Ron would try his utmost to mind Luna's feet: He had trod on her own foot earlier.

"Right then." Fred grinned as they switched partners quickly. "See you in a mo' Ronniekins; Luna, good luck."

As his brother and best friend swept away from them, Ron felt a twinge of helplessness. It was easy though, as soon as Ron began to lead the younger girl in time with the music.

"So, er, how has your summer been, Luna?"

She gazed up at Ron, her dreamy expression sending warmth and color to his cheeks. "Oh, fine. Daddy has had me researching methods to make Gurdyroot tea. We haven't found one so it's up to me to make one. It shouldn't be too difficult, really..."

This is what Ron liked about Luna, the ability to make sense by confusing others. It wasn't anything like Hermione's imperious lecturing and he admired it. Sure he had no idea what she was going on about, but it was truly entertaining to listen to her.

"And you, Ron?"

"Just looking forward to this day, really." He half hoped Luna would get the hint yet breathed a silent sigh of relief when she did not.

"What a nice brother you are, to look forward to Bill's wedding. I rather thought you would be indifferent about this whole affair." She smiled, her large eyes momentarily mesmerizing him. "I wish I had siblings. I could teach them about, well, everything Daddy has taught me..." She continued on, dreamily flitting from one subject to another, with Ron guiding her around the dance floor, listening as though he wouldn't hear her voice again.

"Nice night for snogging." Fred whispered so only Hermione could hear him.

She looked affronted for only a moment before she realized he was only yanking her wand. "Yes, seems as such." Hermione replied with a shrug just as the tempo began to dip into a slow song.

"Well since you're not willing yet, we'll just have to add that item to our list of things to do when this damned war is over. Right behind tea and right before shagging." Then added as Hermione looked properly scandalized. "Joking, joking...we'd have to grope heavily first..."

Both laughing quietly to themselves as they continued to dance in a comfortable proximity from one another. Hermione could count on one hand how many times Fred had made her laugh since they met years and years ago; it made her wonder that, perhaps, if she had laughed a little easier and was more ready to break rules instead of uphold their ludicrousness how much more they could have been. At this point they were an Almost, a Maybe, a very big If.

Then the song ended. While others began to clap and some, switch partners, Fred held onto Hermione a little longer. She pulled back first, looking steadily into Fred's eyes, hoping all that she wanted so desperately needed to say would be relayed somehow to him.

"I better not keep George and Fleur's cousins waiting, even though they only want my ugly twin." He said solemnly. Then, giving Hermione a jolly wink, he gave a short bow before leaving her on the dance floor.

"Keeping up appearances, isn't he?" She jumped a mile into the air just as a new, faster paced song began to sound through the fallen night. Ron stood there, right behind her, watching his brother disappear with George and two veelas to the pond beyond the Burrow.

Hermione managed to collect herself before speaking, "And so are we. Where's Luna?"

Ron seemed annoyed as he spoke words he obviously did not even want to think about. "Krum asked Luna to dance. Was about to give him a piece of my mind before I saw Fred say goodbye."

Then, only after another song or two, everything changed as Kingsley's lynx announced the fall of the minister and the ministry and the approach of everything they stood against.

Trainwreck729: Yay for enjoyment! And thanks for the encouragement.

Hope all is well with everyone else. Tip your waitresses.

xxx
pengz 072907/905p (PAC)