Harry and Paige had a small ceremony at the Ministry followed by a reception at the restaurant they had celebrated his birthday at. It had been a plain affair in comparison to his first marriage but Harry was happy to be starting a new life and was ready to be a father.

Paige's family had come to London for the event. Her father was a tall man, even taller than Ron so he towered over Harry while he gave him fatherly advice. "I'm glad you did the honest thing and married my daughter. I don't like the idea that my daughter was pregnant before she was married but we'll just move on from there. You treat her right or I'll kill you." He laughed and forcefully patted Harry on the shoulder and Harry wasn't sure if he was kidding or not. Harry looked up at his new father-in-law who stopped laughing and started to nod his head. Paige came to his rescue and brought him over to her mother and siblings.

Harry looked over and saw Ron and Hermione by the beverage table. Hermione reached for some wine, but Ron replaced it with ginger ale. Ron had confided in Harry that he thought Hermione might be drinking a bit too much. She didn't seem to upset but laughed at his protective gesture.

Harry looked around and saw that a few Weasleys had come. Fred and George were having a good time as usual and Bill came minus Fleur and Gerard.

"Congratulations Harry," said Bill shaking Harry's hand. "She seems like a fine girl. Mum wanted to come but…"

"Don't mention it, I understand." Harry consoled. "It was hard for me to accept that Ginny and I were over. But, I like where my life has taken me. I'll pop over there soon and see her. I'd like Paige to meet her even though it is sort of awkward. But she's like a mother to me and all."

"She'll love to meet her. Do you know if anyone has told Ginny?"

Harry was surprised at Bill's question. He would certainly know better than him. "I haven't, I assumed your mother did."

"I don't think she had the heart to tell her." Bill took a long pause. "No one blames you for moving on. I admit you did it rather quickly but no one blames you. You're still like a little brother to me." He and Harry exchanged a brotherly hug and Bill excused himself.

Harry looked at his new bride. She was radiant; perhaps it was the pregnancy glow. It wasn't the passion of his relationship with Ginny, but it was comfortable and loving. She had become his best friend and he was happy to start his life with her.

Hermione seemed to be enjoying herself at the small reception. I hadn't been able to keep my eyes off her; especially since she was once again wearing that amazing dress. Bill, who had been talking to Harry, made his way over to me.

"So, do you know if Ginny knows?" He asked in a hushed voice.

"No idea. I assume mum must have told her by now but maybe mum wanted to wait so that she didn't interrupt it or anything."

"You and I are thinking along the same lines then. If she had known, she would have been here." He reached down and grabbed a mini quiche from the tray and popped it in his mouth. "I wish mum had come. She'll really like her I think."

"Yep, Paige is great. I would be lying if I didn't say I was surprised that Harry had a wand-point wedding. Hermione and I suspected there was more to their so called friendship." I couldn't help but grin at Hermione's shameful detective work over the last month or so.

"Speaking of Hermione, when will we be having a reception for you two?"

"I wish I could say tomorrow but we are taking things slow; sometimes I think things are coming to a screeching halt."

"What do you mean?"

"We'll get so close and one of us, usually me, stops it. I don't want her to feel pressured or anything. Then we go through weeks of not touching and being completely uncomfortable."

"Why are you stopping it? I'm sure she wouldn't be doing anything that she doesn't want to. Just go with it and let her stop it if she wants."

"I don't want her to regret anything."

"It sounds to me like you're the one with the regrets."

"What do you regret?" Asked Hermione who had stumbled upon our conversation.

"Not having asked you to marry him yet." Exclaimed Bill. I chocked on my wine and Hermione's eyes bugged out of her head. "I'm just kidding. You should have seen your reactions. But anyway this gives you two something to think about. I've got to get going. The twins want to see Gerard and Fleur doesn't like them to be there without me at home. Wonder why?" He added sarcastically grinning and walking off.

Hermione and I just stared at each other for a minute. "You know Bill, he just says anything."

I might have been mistaken but she looked disappointed. "Right," she nodded in agreement. "Paige told me they are about to leave. They are going to Rome for a long weekend for their honeymoon."

"Good."

"Okay, well I think I'm going to take off." She turned to leave.

"No wait," I grabbed her arm. "Let's say our goodbyes and go together."

Ron had been acting strangely since we left the reception. I'm sure it was because of Bill; he should learn to keep his mouth shut. Men don't like to be told to get married, etc. We walked down the streets of Hogsmeade, it was dusk and the sky was tinted purple and gave a magical look to the shops.

"Want to stop in for a butterbeer?" He asked outside the Three Broomsticks.

"Sure," I said as I made for the door. "Pretty soon there will be Hogsmeade weekends and you'll have no peace. That Sandy Waller girl will likely stalk your house."

Sandy Waller was a cunning seventh year Ravenclaw that had her sights set on Ron. They had only been in classes for a few days but she had purposefully stayed behind to talk to him each day. I had even overheard her in the library telling the other girls that he wasn't too old for her. Ron for the most part was horribly embarrassed by the situation. Everywhere he turned she would show up. At first I was a little annoyed but now I was having fun watching Ron avoid her.

"Ugh, don't mention her." He replied. "I'm going to need a restraining order. Couldn't you talk to her?"

"I don't think that would go over well. Apparently, I'm the competition and she wants to get me out of the way as soon as possible." I giggled.

We were about to sit down when Ron was attacked by a very blond woman. "Won-Won how are you? I've been meaning to get in touch with you." She continued to drone on and purposefully stepped between Ron and me, blocking me from his view.

"Oh, hi Lavender, 'Mione had mentioned that she had run into you."

She turned and acted as though it was the first time she noticed me. "Oh, hello Hermione." She fake smiled. "Aren't you so cute all dressed up. Ron, you look amazing in that suit."

"Thanks, we were just coming back from Harry's wedding."

Lavender's jaw dropped. "Harry's what? I thought he just got divorced from your sister."

"She's really a nice girl…" I started and sat down in the booth. But Lavender continued her conversation with Ron as though I wasn't there.

Ron motioned he'd get us drinks and Lavender followed him up to the bar chatting his ear off. I sat there waiting for a bit, service must be slow, I thought. I looked back up and saw he and Lavender were sitting at the bar having their drink apparently forgetting the fact that I was waiting.

I watched and realized that they were engrossed in conversation and when Lavender started stroking his thigh, I was done. I got up and left without either one of them noticing. I made my way back to the castle intent on a warm bath and a good night's sleep.

Lavender was driving me insane. Why wouldn't she just shut up? How long had she held me captive here? She was rambling on about her failed attempts at fashion design and how she planned to return to Paris as soon as she could to apprentice under someone else. After a while I tuned her out and felt like I had actually fallen asleep with my eyes open.

"So what do you think?" She asked.

"About what?"

"Grabbing dinner tonight and maybe going back to my place or something." I then realized that she had been rubbing my thigh and looked to Hermione to see if she could help. Problem was that she was gone.

"Where is Hermione?"

"She left a while ago."

"Why didn't she say anything?" I wondered and also wondered why she didn't take me with her.

"Won-Won you are so cute. I'm sure she realized that you'd be ending your evening with me and left. So what do you say?"

I wasn't paying her any attention and walked out the door. I could hear her calling after me and suddenly she was at my side. "I thought you lived in town not at the castle."

"I do, I'm going to see 'Mione. I think she may have gotten the wrong impression."

"I don't think so, I think she understands. Let's go back to your place for another drink. I'd love to hear more about what you've been up to."

"No thanks Lavender. I'll just talk to you later." I continued to walk toward the castle.

"Okay, I'll hold you to that." She yelled.

I sprinted the rest of the way and received several hellos from students along the way.

"Oh, Professor Weasley wait up!" Cried an all too familiar voice.

"Sorry Sandy, I'm looking for Ms Granger."

"Oh, I haven't seen her. I was wondering if I you had made a decision on me doing my seventh year project with you."

"Yeah, I don't think it's a good idea." Her face fell, obviously heartbroken and embarrassed since some of her friends were around.

"Professor Weasley, I think Ms Granger went to her quarters." Said one of Sandy's friends with a smirk; obviously already tired of her friends shenanigans. Sandy looked ready to kill.

"Thank you Julie." I said appreciatively and began the trek up to Hermione's room.

I gave the professors password and the outline of a door appeared on the hallway wall opposite the library's entrance. I knocked several times but there was no answer so I resorted to using the password I had convinced her to give me.

I walked in and saw that everything was neat and tidy. I heard water being shut off in the distance and sure enough a moment later Hermione entered the living room area wearing a robe.

She let out a little yelp and closed her robe tightly around her body. "Ron, what are you doing here?"

"I needed to talk to you. Why didn't you tell me you were leaving I needed you to rescue me."

"You didn't look like you needed saving!" She snapped and crossed to her kitchen area where I noticed she had been making tea.

"Well I did and I'd like a cup." I said pointing to the teapot.

She obliged and handed me a cup. "Wait, did people see you come in here?"

"Who cares?"

"I don't want people to get the wrong idea Ron." She said slightly infuriated. I loved when she looked like that so I placed my cup on the table, put my arms around her and kissed her to an inch of her life.

"I don't really care what they think." I said as I continued to kiss her and she let out a little moan that almost made me lose it.

I began to kiss her neck and pushed her robe over in order to assault her shoulder. I started to move us toward the couch but she steered us toward the bedroom instead. We lay on the bed and things began to get out of control. Her robe was open, my shirt and pants were off but I had to ask one last time, "Are you sure about this?"

She rolled her eyes and told me to stop asking. It was the most phenomenal night of my life, finally we were together. The morning when I snuck out her room looking quite disheveled, I was caught by two patrolling prefects.

"Professor Weasley, don't you live in town?" Asked Julie, Sandy's friend and fellow Ravenclaw. She seemed as though she was trying to suppress an all knowing grin.

"Way to go Professor Weasley, Ms Granger is hot!" Said Edward, a Gryffindor, looking impressed. They both burst into laughter and Julie smacked him on the arm.

"Whoa it's not what you think. I was simply here for an early breakfast. Ms Granger and I have been friends…" I started.

"Ron you forgot your tie." The last part was barely audible. She had opened the door in hopes of catching me but realized we weren't alone. She squeaked and hastily shut the door.

I reached down and casually picked the tie off the floor where she had dropped it.

"Weren't you wearing that yesterday?" Inquired Julie.

"I'm not sure, but what I am sure of is that both your houses deserve points for you keeping quiet about anything you think happened here. Right?"

"Of course sir. We never saw you." Guaranteed Edward but Julie seemed pleased with the situation and probably couldn't wait to let Sandy know her plans were foiled. I knew that by class on Monday morning everyone would know where I spent Saturday night.