Chapter 13: Last-Minute Plans
The phone rang in the living room, interrupting their second kiss. "Ignore it. The answering machine will get it," Hermione murmured, not wanting to break the moment just yet.
George nodded, more than willing to comply. The answering machine picked up just then and he heard his sister's voice. "Hermione? It's Gin. Are you there? I have a really, really huge favor I need to ask you."
Ginny kept talking so Hermione sighed and grabbed the phone. "Gin? Yeah, I'm here."
"Hermione! You are there! I called your assistant and she said your movie's on hold and I really, really need your help!"
George was giving Hermione a questioning look. Suddenly she had an idea and she gave him an impish grin. With one finger to her lips so he would know to keep quiet, she said into the phone, "Hey, Gin. Why don't you just come over so we can discuss this? I'll put some tea on. You sound frazzled."
"That would be so fantastic! I've been running ragged and the wedding is tomorrow and –"
"Just come on over, Gin. Then you can ask me the favor. Oh, and you can meet my boyfriend," she added, almost as an afterthought.
"What?! You have a boyfriend and you didn't tell me? When did this happen??"
She gave George another of her trademark grins and he had to keep from laughing. "Just come over, Gin." Hermione hung up the phone without even saying goodbye and started giggling. George laughed along and shook his head.
"You're evil, you know?"
She nodded. "Yes, I know."
There was a pop in the living room that signaled Ginny's arrival. She started talking as she entered the room. "Like I said Hermione, the wedding's tomorrow and one of my bridesmaids…" Ginny trailed off when she saw who else was in the room. "George, what are you doing here?"
Hermione grinned at her. "Ginny, meet my boyfriend."
The look on Ginny's face was hysterical and set both George and Hermione off again. Another inch and her jaw would be brushing the floor. Ginny finally recovered enough to speak. "Are you serious?"
Both Hermione and George nodded and they instantly had a squealing female on their hands. Ginny bounced over to them and tried to squeeze the life out of them. "I can't believe it! I'm so excited for you guys! Have you told Mum yet?" She kept chattering as she grabbed their hands and dragged them to the living room.
"Well, that went well," George murmured in Hermione's ear. He managed to extricate his hand from his sister and looped his arm around Hermione's waist.
She nodded and smiled. "Wait until we tell the rest of your family."
"No kidding."
They let themselves be led over to the couch by a still-chattering Ginny and sat down while Ginny took the chair across from them. It appeared that she had finally run out of things to say as she just sat there beaming at them. Finally Hermione said, "So what's this big favor, Gin?"
"Oh!" Her eyes grew wide. "I completely forgot!" Suddenly her expression became all business. "My wedding. Here's the deal. One of my bridesmaids just eloped today and the wedding's tomorrow and since you're not shooting right now, it's perfect so could you please, please, please be my fourth bridesmaid? Without you we won't have an even number and I wanted you to be my maid of honor originally anyway, but then you said you would be filming so I didn't even think you would be able to come, but – "
Hermione held up her hand to stop her when it looked like Ginny would continue. "Gin, wait. Slow down a tad." When Ginny took a deep breath, she continued. "What exactly would I have to do?"
Ginny grinned and leaned forward. "I want you for my maid of honor. Right now I have Susan in that slot, but I'd really rather have you there instead and Susan said she wouldn't mind. So it would be you, Susan, Padma and Luna as my bridesmaids. All you have to do is walk up the aisle with Ron, stand there, look pretty, and take my bouquet from me." Her eyes were pleading. "Please, Hermione."
Hermione looked at George before nodding. "All right, I'll do it."
Ginny squealed again and then pulled something out of her purse. She used her wand to enlarge it and presented it to Hermione. "Here's your dress. It's already sized for you." Three more items followed. "And your shoes and your hair clip. I had them all ready just in case."
Hermione accepted all of this with an amused expression on her face. "Methinks I've just been suckered in."
George laughed, but Ginny replied seriously, "Melody really did elope, Hermione. The fact that you perfectly fit her size is pure coincidence."
"Sure it is."
"Well," Ginny conceded, "I did tell her it was all right for her to go when I found out about your movie shoot being postponed."
"Ah-ha!" Hermione said triumphantly.
Ginny smiled unrepentantly and continued. "Anyway, we have a rehearsal tonight at seven and the wedding starts tomorrow at eleven. You know where it's at?"
"I can take her there," George put in.
Ginny grinned at them both. "Mum's going to be so excited!" was all she said before glancing down at her watch. "Shoot. I've got to run. The caterer called and said she needs to see me at ten. Something to do with the cake. See you two tonight!" And with a pop she was gone.
Hermione gave George another amused look. "And here I thought brides got stressed out the day before their weddings. She was borderline hyperactive."
"I don't think there was anything borderline about it," George replied dryly.
She nodded. "I think you may be right."
a/n: aww. more fluffies! so cute! as I'm sure you all can tell by now, this is a very fluffy story, not much drama really. I'll try to update again soon but we'll have to see how the muse treats me. let me know what you think. toodles!