Chapter 14: Rehearsal

"Wait a minute," Harry clarified. "George has a girlfriend?"

They were all standing around waiting for the last few people to arrive so they could start the rehearsal. The rehearsal was pretty casual, nothing dressy, so they were all in various attire ranging from day robes to blue jeans. There would be a dinner to follow.

Ginny nodded, her eyes twinkling like mad. "I just found out about it today."

"Well, who is it?" Ron asked, holding a clip out to Susan while she gathered her hair up out of her face.

The bride-to-be shook her head, still smiling like mad. "Not telling. You'll find out when he gets here."

Fred gave his sister a knowing smile. "It wouldn't happen to be the woman he's been spending the last several days with, would it?"

"Aw, you guessed." Ginny stuck her lower lip out and pretended to pout.

"Well, she did help dye my wife purple," Fred said with a chuckle, looking over at Katie who was still looking slightly mottled.

"No way." Ron shook his head in denial. "It's not—"

"Hermione!" Ginny squealed, cutting Ron off and running to the door where said girl had just appeared. "You're here!"

"Of course I'm here, Gin. I'm your maid of honor," Hermione replied with a smile.

Ginny's grin turned wicked. "Now if you would just quit snogging my brother, we might be able to start this rehearsal! I want to get married sometime this year, you know."

Hermione blushed a brilliant shade of Weasley red, but still managed a mock glare. "Better be careful, Gin. We still have more of those rubber duckies."

Ginny's eyes got comically wide. "I concede, I concede."

This made both of them laugh. Ginny hooked her arm through Hermione's elbow and then turned back to join the group. George was standing back with a smile on his face. Everyone else was staring back and forth between George and Hermione in disbelief. Hermione felt a little giggle bubble up in her throat when she saw Harry and Ron's faces. They were doing remarkable impressions of guppies.

"You and George are dating," Ron finally stated.

Hermione nodded.

"You and George pranked Katie," he continued.

Hermione nodded again, wondering where this was going.

"You, the rule-following prefect, helped George, my crazy brother, with a prank."

"Yes…"

He grinned. "Welcome to the Dark Side."

This elicited laughter from everyone in the room.

Hermione gave him a cheeky grin. "I know, you have cookies."

After the laughter died down, George grabbed Hermione's hand and led her over to his parents. Arthur was smiling and gave them a nod in greeting. Molly was beaming at them both and immediately encased them in an enormous hug.

"So when did this happen, you two?"

"Just this morning, Mum," George replied, not releasing Hermione's hand.

"Well, I'm very happy for you both. Now, let's get on with this rehearsal."

George nodded, his face serious. "That's very true. Then we can get on to the best part."

"And what is that?" his mother asked, taking the bait.

"Why, dinner of course!"

He escorted his mother and girlfriend back toward the wedding party to the sounds of their amused laughter.

a/n: I'm alive!! I'm so, so sorry it's taken this long to update, but very shortly after I posted the last chapter I got pregnant with my daughter. Now she's six months old and I'm just now getting to the point where I feel like I have the time and energy to update. She definitely keeps my husband and I busy, so we'll see when the next time I can update is. Anyway, hope you enjoy. Let me know if you like it!