.
CHAPTER 3
[Earlier that day]
"Hermione, have you seen the Daily Prophet today?" Ron asked her the moment he saw her.
Hermione rolled her eyes before grabbing the toast in front of him. "Good morning to you too, Ron"
"Hey!" Ron protested and was about to say something about the toast when Hermione kiss him. He smiled at her when she pulled back.
"Well, someone is in a good mood today," he commented. Not that he minded, really. Hermione is his fiancé and they are getting married in a few months. Heck, he still couldn't believe this is happening.
"If you must know, Ronald" she started, before turning her back to get her coffee. "Ginny and I managed to find the perfect wedding dress and the bridesmaid dress yesterday." She smiled at her soon-to-be husband's reaction. "And before you ask me, no, you cannot see the dress."
Ron closed his mouth before opening them again. "I wasn't going to ask you that, Mione."
Hermione raised his eyebrows to that. "Then what were you going to ask me?"
"I just wanted to have a peek," Ron sheepishly ask her.
Hermione laughed at that. "Oh Ronald." She sat down next to him, slowly biting into the toast.
"Is that a yes?" Ron's eyes sparkled.
Hermione didn't even bother to answer him. "What is it about the Daily Prophet?"
"Huh?"
Hermione pointed to the paper that he's holding. "You said something about the Daily Prophet earlier."
"Oh yes, take a look at this!" he practically shoved the paper to Hermione, who took it. "This better don't be about Quidditch. It's too early for me," Ron rolled his eyes and nudge her to read the article quickly.
Shaking her head, she had no idea why Ron is excited about if it's not about Quidditch. Maybe it's about Harry and Ginny or something. Harry and Ginny got married a few months after the Battle of Hogwarts. It was really a good time if one ask Hermione. The Wizarding World are still healing and the wedding of the century, as dubbed by the Daily Prophets, reminds people just that. That it's not the end of the world. It certainly looked like it, with many buildings, houses and most parts of Hogwarts destroyed. Not to mention the loss and grief felt by everyone. The wedding reminds people that we have to move on. That is the only way to heal.
"Let's see," she mumbled as she read the paper.
Hmm. They are on the front page. Again. She looks at the moving pictures of her and Ginny shopping for the dress yesterday. She smiled at the next picture of her standing in the middle of Harry and Ron, at the Ministry. That was Harry's first day in the Ministry. He decided to be an Auror, a decision which all of them - well the entire Wizarding World, really- expected. After all, he is the one who defeated Voldemort. There's another picture of her and Ron, announcing their wedding about a year ago. Her finger traced the picture as both of them were kissing in the photo. She looks happy in the picture. She is happy. Unknowingly, her happy tear trail down her cheeks and before she can wipe it, Ron gently pushes the tear away. She looked up at him and smile.
"Look at this picture. We look so happy didn't we?"
Ron circled his arms around her. "Yes, we do." He tucked Hermione's stray curls behind his ears and said, "I love you, Hermione." Before she could reply, he added, "But that wasn't the one I wanted you to read"
Hermione's puzzled expression quickly turned into shocked when Ron show her the article at the bottom of her wedding's article. Wide eyes, she turned back to see Ron grinning at her.