-1Chapter 18:
A Little Trouble Sleeping
Disclaimer: You know the drill…I don't own anything here that you recognize from Harry Potter.
Hermione tiptoed into the dormitory ever so silently. She looked around and saw that everyone but Ginny had already fallen asleep. Hermione stealthily moved towards her suitcase and extracted her pajamas, robe, slippers, and toiletries. She turned around to face Ginny and inclined her head toward the door. Ginny understood and together they crept back down the dormitory staircase.
"Something up?" Ginny asked after they had settled comfortably in armchairs by the fire.
"It's nothing really, I guess." Hermione answered not all together believing herself.
"Come on Hermione. You're not getting cold feet now are you? Because if you are, I think that you should march up that staircase right now and let Ron know so that you don't leave him at the alter or-"
Hermione held up her hand and Ginny cut off.
"Ginny, I'm not getting cold alright! For if certainly anything was going on in my mind, I think
that I'd probably say I'm more eager than anything, a bit nervous, but also extremely excited. I just might come off as unsure I guess. Listen Ginny, I love your brother, probably more than anyone will understand-"
"Heaven knows why" Ginny murmured. Hermione giggled and continued.
"Nothing feels as right as when I'm in his arms, so no, this is not cold feet. I just didn't want to have to sit down here by myself tonight, so thank you. Now though, I should really get a shower and then get off to bed. I'm getting married in the morning!"
Ginny got up and gave Hermione a tight, reassuring squeeze. She set off to bed and Hermione took off out of the portrait hole. Soon, Hermione found herself outside the prefect's bathroom. The same password as the one in Gryffindor Tower worked and she stepped inside.
It looked exactly the same as everything else at Hogwarts did. Hermione set to filling the tub up. She poured in all her favorite bubbles from her school days. She stepped in the bath, testing the water with her foot first. Deciding that the temperature was suitable, she slid off her robe and climbed in. It was extremely comfortable in the warm water with all of the wonderful smelling bubbles. Hermione felt herself relax and for awhile, she did not bother herself with worries of the coming day. Hermione finally got out of her bath when she felt herself beginning to prune. That would be horrible, she thought, to be all pruny on your wedding day. She wandered along the corridors, making her way back to the tower. Hermione woke the Fat Lady and gave her the password. She made to walk through the opening in the wall when she collided with something soft and warm. She disentangled herself from the person, ready to apologize to the leery guest and answer that no, she was not getting cold feet until she noticed the mess of copper and red on the top of a very tall head.
"Hermione?" Ron said as he set himself right. She nodded at him and he motioned her back out of the portrait hole. He led her down to the Great Hall which had already transformed into their reception hall. Hermione smiled to herself as she saw the periwinkle table cloths on the tables. The Hall, she mused, looked beautiful and positively perfect. Ron made his way to a table over by the Gryffindor side of the hall and sat down. Hermione followed suit.
"A little trouble sleeping?" Ron asked her.
"Actually, I haven't even attempted to sleep yet. I took a nice long bath and was heading to bed when I fell over you.
"Always falling for me ay Hermione?" Ron grinned cheekily.
"Oh yes, of course." she stated as though he had just asked her what 2 times 2 was.
Hermione stared at him and longed to ask the question that was on her mind, which she hadn't, on second thought, asked Ginny as planned. For a while, neither of them said anything. Finally, Hermione couldn't stand it any longer.
"We're doing the right thing right?" Hermione asked Ron. He looked at her through the moonlight.
"Getting married? Being together always? Why yes, I do believe we are. I love you Hermione. I want the whole world to know it, and getting married is a start. Why, aren't you sure anymore?"
Hermione sucked in a low breath and caught his gaze.
"No Ron, I'm sure about us and getting married, I was just making sure that you were. You confuse me Ron, and that scares me. I just didn't want you to go changing your mind on me."
"Never" he whispered and stood. He helped Hermione out of her chair and then he held her, not ever wanting to let her go, but with the dawn quickly approaching, knew that he had to.
"Well my beautiful bride, I think that we should head up to bed. I don't want to miss a thing tomorrow."
They walked up to Gryffindor tower hand in hand. They woke the Fat Lady again and Ron helped Hermione through the opening. He held her until they reached the separate staircases and then Ron kissed her goodnight. They didn't break apart for a long time. Finally, they both went upstairs to bed, greatly anticipating the coming day.