Chapter 13

Hermione woke with a start.

She'd finished packing all of her belongings the night before, then had returned to Ron's room to wait for him. She'd somehow gathered her courage, and was determined to have it out with him before she left.

By three o'clock in the morning however, it had become achingly clear that he wasn't coming back. Regardless of the fact that it wasn't her right or place to question him, she still couldn't help but wonder where he was spending the night. Her imagination finally getting the better of her, she had collapsed in a heap of tears on his bed when her imagination finally got the better of her. Eventually and thankfully, exhaustion claimed her.

Now she found herself in the same position she'd been in the previous morning save for the painful absence of his protective weight draped over her. When she rolled her head to the side in what she knew was a vain attempt to find him, she saw nothing but a vacant expanse of bedspread.

She looked back up to the ceiling as hot, raw tears streamed from the corners of her eyes cutting a fresh path down to her jaw line and across the nape of her neck. She slung her arm over her face and cried desperately into the crook of her elbow. Realistically, what did she expect to find - him by her side? Not bloody likely. After several long minutes, she drew in a ragged breath, and forced herself into a sitting position.

It was the big day. It was Harry and Ginny's big day, and she was hell bent on making it about them and not the nightmare that had unfolded between her and Ron.

Wiping at the wetness on her face, she glanced over at the alarm clock on the bedside table and sighed. It was still quite early. She threw her legs over the side, leaned her elbows on her knees, and rubbed her hands over her face.

Taking a deep cleansing breath, she set her shoulders back to strengthen her resolve, and stood up. It was time to fuss over Ginny and make her feel like the most important, beautiful woman in the world. She would not mention Ron. She would not even give the slightest hint of upset. She'd need a lot of beauty charms to pull this off, but she would act happy today for Harry and Ginny even if it killed her.

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To both Ron's great relief and disappointment, the Burrow had been total chaos for much of the morning. He'd only had to be in her presence once, and neither said a word nor gave so much as a look in the other's direction. That made things both incredibly easy, and terribly hard all at the same time.

As Ron stood at the altar a few feet from Harry, he had the chance for the first time that day to reflect on the events of the previous night with a clear head. Their horrendous row, her admission of still loving him, and his parting words echoed through his mind. But it was the image of her laid out peacefully on his bed that was indelibly burned on his brain.

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It had been dreadfully late, or rather wretchedly early when he'd found his way back to his room only to be confronted with her curled up asleep on his comforter. He was at a complete loss as to what to do. As angry as he still was, he couldn't bring himself to wake her. He wasn't certain whether that was because he didn't want to disturb her or that he didn't want her to leave his bed. Neither reason sat very well with him.

He remembered being utterly exhausted and having no will to restrain himself. He simply wandered over and knelt at the bedside. Lulled by the gentle rhythm of her steady breathing, he continued to watch her for what could have been either minutes or hours. He also couldn't deny the overwhelming desire to just crawl in beside her and pretend like nothing had happened. Thank Merlin he hadn't gone that far. That wouldn't have solved anything.

He sat vigil beside her and let his mind rake over the many questions bubbling within him. What was she to him now? Did he really want her back? Was she even the same person he'd fallen in love with all those years ago? He was so confused. His head and his heart were in a terrible battle, and to make matters worse they both kept switching sides.

When the first signs of morning broke lightly through his curtains, he instinctively knew she'd be waking soon. Recognizing that he wasn't quite ready to face her yet, he rose and made his way to the door. He stole one last glance at her before forcing himself from the room.

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Suddenly, a hand on his forearm pulled him from his memories. He looked up to find Harry staring at him with concern woven deeply into his features.

"Are you alright mate?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Ron mumbled in response.

Harry dropped his hand, and looked around awkwardly before continuing. "Listen Ron, you really have to get past this. What she did…"

Ron cut him off though before he could finish. "I don't want to talk about it, Harry. Besides, don't you think now may not be the best time to get me going? We're standing in front of a group of people at an altar and you're about to marry my sister. This is your moment, Harry. Not 'let's help Ron because he's a huge bloody prat' time."

Harry chuckled lightly. "But you're both my friends Ron. And to be honest, this isn't a completely selfless act. Today has to be perfect… for Ginny."

"Harry, I promise to do everything in my power to make sure we behave ourselves. And Hermione has probably already made the same promise to Gin. You have nothing to worry about."

"I know. I know. I just want you both to be happy. But moreover, I want Ginny to be happy." He finished pointedly.

"Duly noted."

Suddenly, the music struck up drawing all eyes to the entrance of the tent. Ron peered down the aisle and all his breath left his body. There at the edge of the aisle runner stood a vision. He had never seen Hermione look so beautiful in his entire life. Even the Yule Ball in fourth year didn't compare, and he'd always secretly held that moment as his benchmark. She almost looked unearthly in her dark, blood red dress robes.

After a few seconds, he realized his mouth was hanging open, and snapped it shut. It was truly uncanny the effect she had on him. She began to walk slowly down the aisle, and was looking about smiling broadly at all their friends and family. He felt his chest constrict tightly when he saw her wink at Roberto, but then became embarrassed at the feeling for several very obvious reasons one of which was his brother Percy sitting right next to him.

As she continued to move toward him and Harry, he realized she'd glanced at and smiled to everyone. Everyone, that is, except him. He realized quickly that she was purposefully not looking his way. For some reason, this caused him no end of pain, and he dropped his eyes to the ground.

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Hermione stood at the top of the aisle ready to make her way to the altar. She knew the tall, dark figure beside Harry was Ron, but she couldn't bring herself to really look at him. If she made eye contact, then she would have to acknowledge that she was walking down an aisle toward him standing at an altar, and it wasn't their wedding. A wedding that had become impossible now because of her. So instead, she looked to everyone else avoiding his general direction.

She came to stand at the altar opposite him. Knowing this moment would rival her worst nightmare; she'd been steeling herself for it all morning. Unable to resist the overpowering need to look at him in this setting just once, she glanced up.

Although she could not see those devastating blue depths because his eyes were firmly set on the ground, he still looked absolutely gorgeous in his black dress robes. Just when she was about to pull her eyes away, he looked up and their eyes connected for the first time since their row.

In that moment, she couldn't have moved or looked away even if she wanted to. His eyes didn't leave hers. They didn't rake down her body, as they were so wont to do. They didn't waver or shift about nervously. They held her, captivated her, and paralyzed her with their intensity.

The sound of everyone standing shook her from the slow drowning she was experiencing in his eyes. She tore her gaze away to find Ginny in all her glory standing at the mouth of the tent.

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The moment their eyes connected, he knew he was lost. He wasn't sure if they would ever get past their problems, but he knew with no amount of uncertainty that after seeing her across from him in that setting he'd never be able to be with another woman again as long as he lived.

Now she was gazing down the aisle watching as his sister approached and he was still having serious trouble tearing his eyes away from her. Everything about her in that moment hurt him. She was breathtaking, exquisite really, and horribly sad. No one else would have been able to tell, but he could see it in her eyes. He had to find something else to focus on or he was going to royally bugger up Harry and Gin's wedding.

So he looked instead to his baby sister who had just made it to the altar. With a happy, nervous giggle to Harry, Ginny turned to face the officiating wizard and the ceremony began.

"We who have gathered at this special place are now privileged to witness and share in the joy of this union between Ginevra Weasley and Harry Potter. Marriage is a commitment of the best that two people can give to each other…"

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Stolen glances ensued throughout the entire ceremony. One unwitting lover would gaze longingly at the other memorizing everything about them in that captured moment while the second, completely unaware of the pleasure they were giving, was counting the seconds until they could safely steal a glance. When the second lover finally did look over, the first would avert their eyes quickly as if never having looked in the first place. And thus it would flow back and forth. Both were guilty of this game although neither was aware of the other's participation.

"Do you, Ginevra, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, take Harry as your husband?

"I do." Ginny answered shyly flushing pink.

"Do you, Harry, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take Ginevra to be your wife? "

"I do." Harry was having a very hard time keeping the tremor out of his voice.

"At this point, the couple has chosen to speak their own personal vows. Ginevra, when you're ready."

Ginny took an unsteady breath, and smiled nervously at Harry. She held out her hand to him, and he reached up quickly to take it.

"Harry, today I take you for my husband. I give you my hand and my heart, and hope that my love will always be a safe haven for you. Now we will feel no rain, for each of us will be shelter for the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of us will be companion to the other. Together we will face all of life's experiences and share one another's dreams and goals."

She let out a rush of breath in relief and a small laugh at having made it through without fumbling or breaking down. She gave him a watery smile, and swiped at the errant tear coursing down her cheek.

Harry cleared his throat, and clasped on tighter adding his other hand to the hold. Her words were perfection to him. Everything he had ever wanted in a home, in a family, in a life expressed in her simple vow. He began to tremble violently, and she placed her free hand over their connection.

"Ginevra," he began but had to clear his throat again to force down the swell of emotion threatening to take his voice away.

"Ginevra, I take you for my best friend, my lover, the mother of my children and my wife. In return, I give myself to you completely. I promise to love you when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I will stand by you and with you, loving you forever."

He barely made out the last words before his chest was wracked with sobs. Ginny moved to him quickly wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.

Harry's words tore through Hermione like a knife.

'I promise to love you when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort,' she repeated to herself.

Would she and Ron ever be able to fulfill that kind of promise to each other? Would they ever find the strength to make it through 'the hard'? Would they ever get the chance to experience 'the easy'?

The old wizard's voice cut through her thoughts, and she recognized it to be the end of the ceremony.

"…May the road rise to meet you, may the wind always be at your back, may the sunshine be warm upon your faces, and the rains fall softly upon your fields. May the light of friendship guide your path together, may the laughter of children grace the halls of your home, and today, may the spirit of love find a place in your hearts. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife! You may seal your promise to each other with a kiss."

Harry pulled Ginny to him in a fiercely, and placing his hand on the back of her head, kissed her passionately.

The cheers from everyone were robust, and several catcalls and whistles could be heard rising from the crowd.

Finally pulling away and grinning like a madman, Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and they started off down the aisle to greet all their well wishers.

Making every effort to avoid eye contact, Ron and Hermione cautiously stepped toward each other. This was the one moment they had both failed to anticipate. Looking down and away, Ron offered her his arm. This was going to be her downfall. She had to walk down the aisle on his arm. At least if she started to cry, everyone would think it was because of the beautiful ceremony.

He was becoming nervous. She wasn't moving. Panic setting in, he fidgeted slightly and was about to pull back when she slowly reached up and laced her hand under and around his arm. She stepped in close to him, and the nearness of her sent a thrill straight through him.

They began to move slowly and silently down the aisle very conscious of all the watchful eyes upon them.

After a few long moments, she whispered, "where did you get to last night?"

He felt himself flush at the sound of her lowered voice.

"I went for a walk," he mumbled.

"All night?"

"No," he grumbled.

Another painful stretch of silence consumed them until Hermione's wretched jealous curiosity overpowered her.

"So, where did you sleep?"

'What is she getting at? Is she honestly playing at being jealous?' thought Ron.

"Downstairs on the couch," he growled. "I couldn't very well sleep in my own bed, now could I?"

She stopped abruptly shocked by his admission.

"You mean you… you knew I was…"

He pulled slightly on her arm restarting their progress.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"We both know that's near to impossible when you're tired."

"Well, you could have…"

"No, I couldn't..." he cut her off, knowing exactly where she was headed.

It unnerved him because he had thought along the very same lines.

She pulled away from him placing her hands on her hips. Luckily they had made it to the entrance of the tent. However, guests were now pushing past them to find and congratulate the newly married couple.

"And why not? Would it really have been so terrible?"

She was becoming irrational and she knew it, but she couldn't stop herself.

"Under the circumstances, yes, I would say it would have been."

He just couldn't help himself. Arguing with her was familiar territory, and oddly enough felt incredibly safe. He knew they'd be able to get everything out this way.

"I'm that atrocious, am I? Couldn't even bear to sleep in the same bed as me?"

"You know that's not what this is about…" he barked.

"Hello you two." Came a voice from beside them.

They both swung around to find Luna and Neville smiling happily at them.

"Oh, hello. Luna… Neville…" Ron stuttered. "If you'll excuse me, I have to… um… I… I think I hear Mum calling... Yes Mum? What? Coming."

And with that, he was gone before anyone could get a word in edge wise.