Disclaimer: All the Characters and places come strictly from J.K.R.'s mind. If they were mine, I wouldn't be typing this on my computer at home. The plot strictly belongs to me, that's it.

Chapter 7:

A Shade of Blue

Hermione and Ron went to an invitation store the next day and picked out the style that they would use for their wedding. They ended up choosing invitations that had a crème tint to them and cursive hand writing. Both Ron and Hermione agreed that they had made a good selection. Today, Ron and Hermione were taking their wedding party (all four of them) to try on dresses and tuxes at a local muggle Bridal Shop.

"Hermione darling you go ahead and try to find your wedding dress first. Harry, Neville, and I will wait outside until Ginny or Luna comes to get us. Have fun my dear."

Ron walked over to Hermione and kissed her softly. Before he left, Ron whispered in Hermione's ear:

"You'll look beautiful in anything, so don't fret about what I will like. You pick your dress because you love it okay?"

Hermione nodded and watched him leave the store.

"You know Hermione, you could have had Viktor Krum and you chose my boring old brother. I thought that you were supposed to be the brightest witch of your time? Maybe they should rethink that title."

Hermione playfully swatted at Ginny with her purse.

"Come on you two. I need to find a wedding dress; I can't go starker at my own wedding!"

"God knows that Ron wouldn't mind if you did though" Ginny mumbled under her breath and together the tree of them headed towards a rack that looked very promising.

"Luna this is the sixth dress that I've tried on and it's worse than the five previous ones."

Hermione was staring at her reflection in the three-way mirror. Currently, she was wearing a princess style dress complete with full skirt and puffy sleeves. This had to be the most ghastly thing that she had ever worn.

"Well maybe you should try something a bit simpler. Don't worry Hermione; Ginny is looking through a rack now. We're going to find your dress here." Luna walked away to go and help Ginny. Hermione looked up at the ceiling and let out a long, harsh sigh. Catching her reflection in the mirror, Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered "What was I thinking?"

"Well, I do believe you were thinking I'm so happy that I've got Ginny and Luna. Without them I would be stuck in this horrible dress instead of the beautiful one that they found."

Hermione turned around and saw a gorgeous white dress hanging in the out-stretched hand of her bridesmaid. The dress was spaghetti strapped and slinky. It had glittering material and a long drooping back. Hermione grabbed the dress out of Luna's hands and hurried into the fitting room. She tore off the puffy princess dress and slid into the sparkling dress. It was very formfitting; hugging every curve of Hermione's body. The length was perfect and the back drooped to the perfect spot. Hermione opened the door and stepped out into the store.

"Wow" Ginny said and for the first time in all the time that Hermione had known her, seemed to have nothing else to say.

"Hermione, I think that in your case, seventh times a charm" Luna goggled over at Hermione with her piercing eyes.

Hermione laughed. She quite agreed with Lana, after all, Ron had asked Hermione out in seventh year.

"Well Hermione, if you'll change and hand that dress to Luna to buy, I'll go out and get the boys."

Hermione stepped back into the dressing room and took the dress off. She slipped back into her white skirt and Turquoise tank top and handed the dress to Luna. Ginny returned with the boys behind her. Hermione couldn't help but notice that Harry was watching Ginny's every move with the same loving gaze that she saw in Ron's eyes every time he looked at her. Hermione sighed in frustration. She wished that Harry would get a move on already. Asking Ginny out should have never been a problem in the first place. He had already done it once before! What was so hard about doing it again?

"Well Ron it's your turn." Hermione turned to face her future husband.

"There's a man waiting in the Tuxedo department to help you. Harry and Neville can get the coat and pants to their tuxes, but you have to wait for the tie and vest color because they have to match Ginny and Luna's dresses."

Ron and Neville started off towards the men's department but Harry hung back.

"Er, Hermione? Can I have a word? Over here?" Harry motioned towards a spot away from Ginny and Luna who were currently looking at bridal shoes.

"Ah, well, Hermione, I was just er, wondering if maybe you chose a dress."

"Well Harry, I did. I'm quite happy with it. I daresay that I look stunning."

"I'm sure that you do, but please, please tell me that this dress does not have puffy sleeves."

"Harry James Potter, you were spying on me through the window!" Hermione tried to give him a very stern look, but she could feel the smile playing on her lips.

"Hermione I felt that it was my duty as best man to make sure you didn't pick a dress that you would later regret. As long as you didn't pick the sixth dress, then I'll back off."

"Well, I'll have you know that I didn't pick the sixth dress. I picked the seventh. Did you happen to see the seventh dress Harry?"

"No, I was distracted. Ginny walked by you see and-"

"Don't worry then Harry. I picked a very suitable dress. Now go over there and tell Ron that."

"But he didn't-"

"Harry don't even bother. I know the two of you too well."

"Er, right then" Harry said with a sheepish grin on his face and walked away to be fitted. Hermione shook her head slightly then headed towards Ginny and Luna to tell them what had just happened.

"Ginny, Luna, let me see this dress now."

Hermione handed the two girls pink dresses she had just found.

"Hermione, not pink, could you imagine my hair in that color?" Ginny asked. It was true. The shade of dark pink would clash horrible with Ginny's hair.

"What about this?" Luna was holding out a pale blued dress in a halter style. It was short and lacey around the bottom.

"That's really pretty! Ginny you find one and try them on."

Ginny and Luna both tried on a light blue dress.

"Perfect" Hermione said upon seeing them both in the dress. They changed and Hermione paid for them. Then, the quickly went over to the men's department to match the ties and vests with the dresses. They stood in the store for another hour. Each time the man tried to hand Harry or Neville a tie or vest, Hermione found something wrong with the color. After about the tenth "The color is too dark, it won't match the dresses" Ron was about ready to burst.

"Hermione please stop with the shade of blue crap! I'm sick of standing here! Just pick a color and let's go. It's almost dinner time."

Hermione, who had already been on the verge of tears due to the fact that she could not find a perfect color match, started sobbing uncontrollably. Ginny rushed to her aid, patting her on the back and saying "there, there." She gave Ron a reproachful look and finally gave way to her fiery temper.

"You great prat look what you've done! All she wanted was to find a good match for her dresses and you have to go and make her cry! She's trying to make this day special for you and you're not helping at all!"

Ron, looking horrified at what he had done, made to go towards Hermione, but Ginny made a hissing noise and he backed off.

"Listen, I've got to talk to her if we're going to fix this!" Ron cried ten minutes later after his fourth attempt to console Hermione. Finally, Ginny let go and Ron led her outside. He sat her down on a bench and began to speak.

"Hermione, I am so, so sorry. I shouldn't have lost my temper. It's just that it's been a long day and I would really like to get out of here and go home. I'll help you decide on the ties and then we'll go back to your place and relax. We'll even call in sick tomorrow and go cake and linen shopping alright? Please forgive me."

Hermione looked at Ron through her puffy, swollen eyes and realized that she was not mad at him at all, for her tears had been caused by the same thing as Ron's temper. She nodded at him and smiled to let him know that things were alright between them. They went back inside and started looking through the color selections that the store had to offer. After about ten minutes, Hermione and Ron came to a compromise. They picked out ties in a light shade of periwinkle. Neville and Harry both got ties and vests in the color and Ron purchased all of the items left. The six young adults left the store. They all agreed to meet tomorrow at the Bakery in Diagon Alley to pick a cake out. Ron and Hermione set off up the street together. Despite everything, the sky above was a perfect shade of blue.