Disclaimer – Don't own the characters, or some of the plot; it all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling. What would we have done without her?
This one goes out to HollyAnne87 - sorry for making you wait :) Enjoy!
The One with the Big Reveal
Hermione sat on her bed, staring at a catalogue from Madame Malkin's full of wedding dresses, but she wasn't really seeing the different designs. She was thinking too hard about the decision she had made...unsure if it was the right one and desperately wanting to talk to Tonks or Ginny. Not even sure if they would be able to help...it's not like they understood what she was going through. She closed the catalogue with a heavy sigh and leaned back against the headboard. Hermione closed her eyes and she flitted through each of her dates in her mind...none were horrible. There had actually been some very pleasant surprises.
Ron and she discovered with one short kiss, they were more like siblings. Shockingly, it hadn't upset her too much, she had known for a while now that their relationship was heading in that direction.
Kingsley's intense devotion to her protection as well as his shockingly sweet kiss had been expected and thoroughly unexpected, respectively.
Her 'date' with Neville had not unsurprisingly gone completely awful, but at least she had known it would.
Fred was another pleasant surprise; they got along smashingly, had some wonderful conversation and she could see they would be a great match but there was a slight lack of chemistry.
George had the opposite problem of his brother; the chemistry was undeniable, but he was too passionate and foolhardy, not nearly patient enough to treat Hermione with the care she needed right now.
Bill had been sweet to offer, but she could never steal him from the one he truly loved.
Sirius and she had come to quick understanding that neither of them really wanted to entertain the idea of being married. He had told her later, that her description of uncle had made him quite happy and she could have sworn his eyes were slightly teary as he'd said it.
Charlie...well he had been the best surprise of all. Quite willing to surrender control to her when they had kissed, she had been moved by his willingness to marry her. What had he called her? Gorgeous and a spitfire? She mused in her mind that dealing with her at this time in her life, could be something akin to taming a dragon but with a lot more tears. Perhaps he was the perfect man for the job. Still though, this decision was huge. Wizarding marriages weren't like muggle ones, after consummation it was impossible to get a divorce; and since they were being forced to consummate, whoever she chose was stuck with her. It made this decision so much worse.
Heaving another great sigh, Hermione figured she had better begin to tell the men of her decision. It was such a big deal, she didn't feel right for them to find out at the Order meeting tonight with everyone else. With that thought, she made her way downstairs, intending to floo to the Ministry to inform Kingsley of her decision when she ran right into Tonks.
"Wotcher Hermione." Tonks smiled brightly at the young witch, looking wearily for signs of recent breakdowns.
"'Morning Tonks. I was actually hoping to speak to you...if you have the time." Hermione worried nervously at her bottom lip, and Tonks thought she might actually draw blood if she continued.
"Sure thing, you're actually the reason I'm here. Thought you might want the chance to chat about the 'big reveal' tonight." Tonks used air quotes around the last part of her sentence, heavy sarcasm lining her voice.
"Actually yes, I believe I've chosen Charlie...I think we may be the best fit." Hermione said this nervously, dragging Tonks by the hand to sit down in the drawing room. Tonks had raised an eyebrow at this news but said nothing, allowing Hermione to continue if she wished.
"Ron, Sirius, Neville and Bill all put themselves out of the running for various reasons," Hermione said by way of explanation, "so I really only had to choose between the twins, Kingsley and Charlie. Kingsley was really sweet about the whole thing, and offered to protect me...his kiss was actually..."
"His what?" Tonks practically shrieked at this bit of information, eyes wide with wonderment.
"I kissed him...and Ron, Fred, George, and Charlie." Hermione winced, as if waiting for a harsh reaction from the metamorphmagus. Tonks hair rapidly changed colours as it often did when she was thinking rapidly.
"But Hermione – you've been so...skittish around guys?" Tonks was more puzzled than anything else.
"I've found that as long as I initiate contact it's not so bad. Plus, if I'm in control when we kiss, and they don't make any sudden movements it can be quite lovely."
Tonks couldn't help but laugh as Hermione said this, she didn't want to hurt her feelings but that was one of the funniest ways anyone had ever described snogging.
"And just what is so funny?" Hermione seemed unsure why Tonks was laughing.
"That can't be all that fun."
"Charlie didn't seem to mind when I had him backed against a wall with his hands pinned," Hermione said this, laughing at the look on Tonks' face and then added carefully, "If I'm not in control it tends to end badly...just ask George. Poor boy grabbed my hip and had to deal with an hour of my dreadful sobbing."
"No one expects you to just be ok Hermione." Tonks grabbed her hand and held it between both of her own. "You went through something awful."
"I know. Anyway, if you have no objection to my choice or insight at all, I should be off to tell them."
"It's not my choice to make Hermy, and I know you would have thought through every possible scenario. I think this is for the best, get you out of the thick of things for awhile...with someone who clearly doesn't mind being dominated in the sack." Tonks said all of this with a very straight face but laughed as Hermione's eyes widened.
"Nymphadora Tonks, how dare you!" Hermione affronted, standing quickly and heading to the floo.
"You know better than to call me that." Tonks looked slightly put out.
"Oh really? Does Hermy know better?" Hermione asked with a pointed look.
"Fair point you got there," Tonks stood also, "Come on, I'll take you to the auror department so you can talk with Kingsley."
Her meeting with Kingsley had been cut short, by an emergency within the auror department. They had managed to have a very agreeable conversation in which Hermione said she had appreciated the offer, but couldn't accept his hand in marriage. Kingsley was nothing but understanding, accepting the news graciously with a kiss on the cheek from Hermione. She had just finished telling him that he would find out her future husband along with everyone else at the meeting, when he had been called away. Trying to kill multiple birds with one stone, Hermione had flooed straight from the ministry to WWW in Diagon Alley.
Not looking forward at all to telling the twins her news, she gathered what she had left of her courage and marched into the store. It was shockingly very slow in the store today, but Hermione felt that was for the best.
"Hello George, Fred." Hermione greeted the twins who were standing behind the till towards the back of the store.
"Dearest Hermione! What brings you here?" George asked, careful not to hug her in greeting. He had learnt his lesson last time.
"Not that we aren't delighted to see you of course." Fred smiled.
"Of course we're simply delighted."
"Deliriously delighted!"
"Wonderfully delighted!"
"Outrageously delighted!"
Hermione was laughing by the time the twins had finished but quickly got serious again as she remembered why she was there.
"It's alright Hermione." Fred said suddenly, also a bit more serious.
"What is?" She asked confusedly.
"We're not quite ready to make our duo a trio either." George added.
Hermione wasn't sure how they knew but was certainly grateful that she didn't have to explain. It was much simpler this way.
"You two are each wonderful in your own way but I think I'll be better suited with someone else."
"Understandable."
"Completely agreeable."
"Precisely what was expected."
"Glad we all agree."
Getting a slight headache from the twin's tendency to talk in circles, she decided to bid their leave and hurried quickly from the shop not moments later. This last trip would be the hardest. Knowing Kingsley would quickly pick up where they left off if Charlie had changed his mind, was the only thing that kept Hermione moving as she made her way to the leaky cauldron, intent on flooing to The Hovel to have a hopefully nice conversation.
Charlie Weasley was sitting on the couch in his flat, reading a book when his fireplace roared with green flames. Alerting him that someone was going to be coming through. Not expecting anyone, Charlie became immediately suspicious, jumping to his feet, wand in his hand when out of the fireplace walked Hermione. Sighing, he made his way over to her, smiling at her nervous glance.
"Hello Hermione." Charlie spoke softly, glad that she had decided to come by for a visit even though they would be seeing each other at the meeting tonight.
"I wanted to give you one last chance to change your mind." Hermione leaned forward and kissing him on the cheek before turning and walking a few feet away from him.
"Now why would I do that?" Charlie asked, brow furrowed as if he had just been asked a really difficult question that he didn't know the answer to.
"Don't be silly Charlie, there are lots of reasons."
"I'm not backing out."
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Then it's you." Hermione looked at her nervously, wringing her hands and biting at her bottom lip.
"Can I ask why?" Charlie inquired, sitting down on the couch, waving his hand in a gesture indicating she should do that same.
"Moving out here to Romania would be safe. You're quite capable of protecting me should anything go wrong. And I just..."
"What?" Charlie spoke softly. Hoping the next reason wasn't as practical and utterly Hermione as the first two.
Hermione closed her eyes, before speaking so softly Charlie almost couldn't hear her, "and I felt something. I wasn't expecting to but I did, and you were so sweet and let me push you up against that wall and..."
"I didn't exactly mind." Charlie shot her a cocky grin, glad that he hadn't been the only one to feel something from their kiss. "I can move back to England if you'd like."
"No! No! Like I said, I'll be safe here. Plus I saw you yesterday, talking about the dragons, I would never ask you to leave. I don't even have a career yet, nothing is interrupted if I move here."
"Alright, when would you like to get hitched?"
"Wow so romantic." Hermione laughed, "Soon I guess...so no one interferes."
Hermione watched as Charlie nodded in agreement, flashing another brilliant smile. They both seemed to be quite alright with this arrangement; perhaps the daft marriage law wasn't such a bad thing after all. Hermione hardly supposed they would have gotten together on their own. She suddenly felt the urge to kiss him and with no wall around to ensure she had full control, Hermione had to improvise. She stood, made her way across to where Charlie was sitting and grabbed each of his hands in one of her own. Then she carefully sat, straddling him and kissed him full on the lips.
To say Charlie was shocked at this turn of events was probably a vast understatement but he took it in stride. Enjoying the soft feel of her lips against his. They had been snogging for very near ten minutes when Hermione had the sudden sense to look at the clock and jumped up out of his lap.
"I told everyone I'd be back at Grimmauld Place for dinner. I really should go."
"Alright. I guess I will see you at the meeting tonight then?"
"Unless you'd like to come have dinner." Hermione offered, shrugging timidly.
Charlie considered for a moment and then shrugged also, "sure let's go."
Dinner at Grimmauld Place was a fairly sober affair. No one wanted to overstep the seriousness of the occasion when Hermione's husband would be announced that very same night. Everyone at dinner pretty much assumed Charlie was to be her choice when they arrived but no one commented figuring it was best to leave such talk for later in the night.
"Hermione?" Ginny asked out of the blue, after a long twenty minute silence from the rest of the table.
"Yeah Gin?"
"What does that band do?" Ginny hoped it wasn't too insensitive a question. Almost everyone at the table stiffened when she asked but no one reprimanded her and she figured everyone else was wondering the same thing.
"It has bound my magic. I can't perform any magic outside of life saving measures until I am bound to my husband," Hermione felt it best to just tell everyone now, Charlie would need to know at some point anyway,
"After I am bound to him, he controls me and the band is deemed no longer necessary."
Charlie put a comforting hand on top of hers, and aside from a sharp intake of breath no one would know she had had an adverse reaction to all males for the past few months. Ginny smiled at her encouragingly when she noticed this but no one commented.
"I would never abuse that," Charlie reassured her, patting her hand before returning to his meal.
"I know." Hermione said this softly and offered him a weak smile. Pushing her plate away – she didn't have much of an appetite right now.
"Mum, can we pop by the burrow before the meeting; I just need to grab something." Charlie knew that his siblings would find this an odd request. He hadn't lived there for years but no one objected and his mother nodded acceptingly.
"Sure dear, Ginny and the twins can handle to clean-up; we can pop over as soon as you're ready." Molly thought his behaviour a little strange but figured he simply wanted a moment alone or needed to speak to her. Either way she was willing to oblige.
Charlie was not sure his mother would approve of his request. He wanted his grandmother's old wedding ring that she had been saving for the right daughter-in-law. She had not offered the ring to Bill for Fleur when they got engaged a few months ago, Charlie knew that much. He also knew that this wedding was a sham, and she would likely not find it a suitable occasion for giving away such a priceless heirloom. What he hoped however, was that her love for Hermione would allow her to overlook this fact. Charlie had always wanted to give his future bride the ring of his favourite grandmother and even though there was no love between him and Hermione right now, he knew it would grow.
"Alright Charlie, why are we here?" Molly fixed her son with a questioning look, very unsure about why they had returned to the burrow.
"I want to give Hermione a ring...even though this marriage is forced, she deserves something special." Charlie began to explain.
"That's very sweet of you dear, but why are we HERE?"
"I want to give her Grandmother Prewett's ring."
"Ahhh," Molly seemed perturbed by this request, "I'm not sure this is the right occasion for that dear."
"Mum, I think she deserves it. This is a terrible situation and I know you think we aren't in love and that ring was meant for someone special but she is special. And we may not be in love now but there is something there. I know there is. I want her to have it. And I think you do too." Charlie did not often stand up so resolutely to his mother, none of the Weasley children did, she was a force to be reckoned with.
"I did always hope Hermione would wear that ring someday but not by you, and not like this." Molly shook her head. That ring meant an awful lot to her, and she was not going to give it away easily.
"Mum please. It's important to me that she has this ring. I've wanted it for my future wife since I was a boy. You know that." Charlie saw that his mother was not any closer to changing her mind and he knew he had to act fast,
"I know you don't want Percy to have that ring for whomever he should choose. The twins and Ron are agreeing to petition for other muggle-borns to save them from death eaters. Would you like them to give the ring to a perfect stranger?" And with that, Charlie knew he had won.
"Fine. You can have the ring; I just hope you aren't wrong about the two of you falling in love. She's in a dreadful state right now...I don't want to see either of you hurt."
"Even if we don't...we are kind of stuck together for the rest of our lives. But we will, I know we will." Charlie seemed very convinced of their pending relationship and that comforted Molly some.
"Alright son, alright." Molly went up to her room to retrieve the ring, hoping this was the right decision.
The Order meeting had began half an hour ago. Dumbledore had began with new information on the whereabouts of certain death eaters, Snape had done a report on the goings on in the Inner Circle, Harry had done his report on the horcrux search – they were still missing one. Everyone in the room knew it was time for the announcement and they were all fairly antsy with anticipation.
"Miss Granger, I do believe it is your turn to have the floor." Dumbledore sat down and waited patiently for Hermione to tell them all of her choice.
"Charlie and I have decided to be wed. We have agreed the date should be sooner rather than later, to avoid interference. Plus I could do with having this godforsaken thing removed." Hermione tugged once on the band, expecting the shock when it came and suffering through with only a small flinch.
"An excellent choice." Dumbledore nodded gleefully, as if this wasn't an awful consequence of an ill-fated Ministry plan but that they had actually chosen by will to be wed.
"We will live in Romania at 'The Hovel' and Charlie will continue working at the reserve. I am looking for employment, but will spend most of my time continuing to help the Order. I hope we can be married within the week." Hermione glanced at Charlie as she said this last bit, and he nodded agreeably,
"I don't want a huge farce of a wedding when we all know the truth. But a nice, small ceremony would be appreciated. I'd rather not just elope at the Ministry."
"Of course you won't dear," Molly jumped in at once, "we can have a lovely little wedding, with just the Order. Perhaps at the Burrow."
Hermione nodded absently to this, growing sadder by the minute. A wedding meant she needed someone to walk her down the aisle...and given that her father didn't currently know she existed, that would be next to impossible to have. She put her head in her hands and took a deep breath, not wanting to fall apart at this Order meeting too.
"Maybe you could officiate, Professor?" Charlie looked to Dumbledore, and Hermione agreed that would be a wonderful idea.
The rest of the meeting was spent discussing random Order business and then most everyone left Grimmauld Place. Charlie had remained, sitting next to Hermione at the kitchen table even as everyone else departed.
"I have something for you." He spoke once everyone had cleared out, reaching into his pocket and placing it on the table in front of her.
Hermione looked up from her lap and was shocked to see what looked like a ring box. She glanced furtively at him, before picking it up and slowly opening it. It was empty. Hermione was puzzled and she gave Charlie a look that clearly indicated that.
"I need to know that we can work at this being more than just a 'farce'." He said calmly, "if this is forever I need to know you can open up to me. I promise to be patient and help you heal but I can only do that if you agree to trust me. Let me help you...let me be with you. The real you."
"Charlie I didn't mean...of course this will be more than a farce...I just..." Hermione wasn't sure what he needed her to say, wasn't sure what she felt,
"I can't promise you much of anything right now Charlie. I'm just barely holding it together as it is. But having someone help me...hold me together...it doesn't sound so bad."
Charlie realized it was all the concession she could likely give in one night and nodded feeling weary. The ring would be hers one day, and he didn't feel right not giving it to her after he had so blatantly shown her the box. But maybe they could talk a bit more first, he could see if she would open up.
"I think you're holding it together better than you realize. No one knew for three months Hermione, certainly people have been touching you since then."
"Not really," She seemed tired, as if the mere thought of this subject wore her out, "only Harry and Ron, and I'm so used to them at this point it didn't bother me coming from them."
"I guess that makes sense. If we have to...consummate...this marriage, you're going to need to be able to stand my touch."
"I know."
"We can work on it together, build up to it slowly?"
"What other choice do we have?" Hermione shrugged.
"You can choose Ron. Whose touch you don't seem to mind." Charlie realized as he said this that he would be much more upset by this rejection than he was letting on.
"I don't want Ron; not like that. Please Charlie, I don't want to pick anyone else...haven't our kisses been enough as they are?" She was pleading now.
"They've been lovely. But what if I accidently touch you somewhere you don't like one day? I don't want to live in fear of making you break down."
"And I don't want you to. We can work on it – we will work on it. It's just going to take me some time."
"I know. I'm okay with that." Charlie grabbed her left hand in his, and pulled the ring out of his pocket – slipping it gently onto her finger.
"Oh Charlie...it's beautiful." Hermione looked down at the ring in awe. It was a simple ring; a small princess cut peridot in between two diamonds. The band looked to be white gold or maybe platinum – she couldn't tell.
"It was my grandmum's. I thought you might like it." Charlie rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand absentmindedly, hoping she wouldn't recoil from his touch.
"I love it."
They walked together to the fireplace so Charlie could floo home and for the first time, Hermione didn't hold his hands steady as they kissed. Mind you, it was a much shorter kiss than any they had experienced so far. But it was a start.
A/N
Next Thursday: The One Where They Tie the Knot
Chapter Five: The One Where They Build Trust
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