Title: In Your Dreams
Author: Distracted mind
Rating: T
Time frame: Post-HBP
Summary: Hermione has trouble staying in reality after she has some of the greatest dreams. She seems to notice one trend though; they are haunted by one elusive person and one even more elusive gesture. Post HBP

A/N: I wrote this pre-DH, so it contains no spoilers. Any similarities between this story and DH are purely coincidental.

Disclaimer: It's not mine

Chapter 2

Weddings Are Happy Times

Once Hermione had gotten dressed, she headed down to the kitchen to see if she could get something to eat. Since she slept through breakfast, and since Mrs. Weasley was already a nervous wreck, Hermione decided that she would try to be discreet while she raided the kitchen. As she quietly crept down the stairs, she realized that everyone seemed to already be involved in the tedious wedding preparations. A little more relaxed, Hermione decided to just get an apple, since she would undoubtedly be feasting later. As she reached for a red delicious, she saw a shadow on the wall and heard a crash. She spun around to find a blushing red Ron Weasley on the ground by the dining room table. With a sigh of relief, she said, "Ron, are you trying to kill me?"

He stumbled to his feet. "No, I just..." he mumbled, never fully completing his sentence. After a moment, he regained his composure. "I was wondering where you were. You weren't at breakfast," Ron said, running a hand through his unruly mane of red hair, avoiding her eyes at all costs.

"I overslept," she replied nonchalantly. She didn't know why she tried to make it sound like it wasn't a big deal. She knew he wouldn't inquire as to the reason she overslept.

"Yeah, I figured." he agreed. Hermione could feel the tension in the room building. She couldn't figure out why this was so awkward. This was just a conversation between two friends that have known each other for years, right? Of course, it has always been awkward between Ron and Hermione, especially after 4th year and the whole Yule Ball fiasco. However, the tension seemed to heighten during the disaster with Lavender.

A long awkward silence had suddenly taken over the kitchen at the Burrow. Finally, someone spoke. "So, Harry's coming today, right?" Hermione asked.

"That's what he wrote in his last letter," Ron replied. Hermione nodded. The awkward silence resumed. They did there best to avoid each other's eyes.

Hermione thought it would be best to speak. "Ron," she started and he looked up, "about the birds, I-," she stopped when Ginny burst into the room.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Ginny shouted. "What are you doing in here when there is work to be done? Mum is driving me mad ordering me about, and you two are just standing here."

"Sorry Gin, I just had to grab something to eat since," Hermione apologized.

"Yes, well, get a move on. Mum'll go mental if she sees you two in the kitchen. Well, you anyway," Ginny said, pointing at Ron.

"What is there for me to do?" Ron asked angrily.

"You must be joking," Ginny replied, a questioning look on her face. "There's loads to do, it's a bloody wedding! Right now, mum's trying to move tables and chairs."

"Well, what does she need me for? She's got magic." Ron argued. Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. Not that she hasn't ever heard these two go at it, but when their mother was looking for them and she was frantic, now that's a first. She watched in amazement as she took a bite of her apple.

"She is using magic, you idiot. She's levitating them. I assume, with the extensive 6 years of Hogwarts education that you've already managed to wash down the drain, you've at least managed to remember how to do that," Ginny mocked. Hermione could see the color rise in Ron's cheeks and decided it would be best to slip away. She didn't want to be around when Mrs. Weasley came in from hearing the yelling match currently presiding in her kitchen. She was making her way back to the stairs, glancing over her shoulder at the bickering redheads, when she ran into something.

"And where do you think you're going?" Fred asked, raising his eyebrow inquisitively.

Hermione spun around quickly. "I was just-," she began.

She was cut off by George. "Just sloughing off the wedding preparations,"

"And leaving them all for us. How thoughtful of you, Hermione," Fred finished.

"Actually, boys, I was just going out to see if I could help," Hermione stated matter-of-factly.

"Are you sure you want to be doing that?" Fred asked.

"Because she's insane right now," George chimed in.

"And she's tends to foam at the mouth and bite when she gets like this," Fred finished. "What is that racket?"

"Sounds like our dear younger siblings," George observed.

"And it sounds like they have a death wish," Fred added. The twins skipped off to see the festivities in the kitchen. Hermione, however, proceeded to the yard, where she found Mrs. Weasley furiously trying to levitate, it looked like, twenty chairs at once.

"Mrs. Weasley, let me help you with those," Hermione offered.

"Oh no, dear, I've got it," Mrs. Weasley said as the chairs came crashing to the ground. "But thank you. And to think, I've got seven children, and you're the first to offer to help. I've had to hunt down Ron and Ginny, and I still haven't seen Fred or George, by design, I expect."

"Well, is there anything else I can do?" Hermione asked, glowing at the obvious compliment Mrs. Weasley had just given her.

"No, dear, you are a guest in this house. You go on and get ready." Mrs. Weasley said smiling. However, that smile quickly faded. "What is that?" she asked, looking around. Hermione's eyes got big as she saw Mrs. Weasley head for the door. She knew exactly what Mrs. Weasley was referring to. She was trying to think of some way to warn them, until she heard "What is going on in here?" shouted, quite loudly, from the kitchen. Hermione decided it was hopeless and went up to get ready.

Hermione had gotten to Ginny's room, taken out her dress for the wedding, and was laying it out on the bed. As she was once again examining he dress, Ginny burst into the room.

"No warning?" Ginny asked, a little upset.

"Well what was I supposed to do, she was right there and already going towards you," Hermione pleaded while Ginny was trying to gather her things to get ready.

"You could've yelled. Owl, maybe. Possibly a smoke signal of some sort; something would've helped," Ginny insisted dramatically. "I had to spend the past ten excruciating minutes facing the wrath of frantic Molly Weasley, going on about how this is a joyous occasion, and how we should want to help our oldest brother," Ginny paused for a moment of her theatrics and looked at Hermione, "and even how Hermione is a guest and she offered to help."

"She didn't," Hermione replied, slightly mortified on the outside, however, secretly beaming at yet another Molly Weasley compliment.

"Oh, she did. I swear, I think she wishes you were part of this family even more than I do," Ginny added, smiling.

"Now, I wouldn't go that far," Hermione replied, changing into her dress.

"What, the Weasley's not good enough for you, Miss Granger?" Ginny teased.

"You know that's not it." Hermione confirmed. " I just don't think I could handle the Wrath of Molly Weasley. I mean, you remember what happened fourth year."

"Oh yes, the whole 'scarlet woman' bit," Ginny reminisced. "I have to hand it to mum though, she could scare off a dragon with that glare. I wouldn't mind inheriting that."

"I think you have, judging by some of the looks I've seen you give your brothers," Hermione confessed. They both laughed.

"Can you believe this ghastly thing Phlegm's making me wear? Why couldn't I have something nice like yours?" Ginny asked, disgruntled, holding up her bride's maid dress.

Hermione grinned at Ginny while she was complaining about the dress. She looked outside and saw that people were starting to arrive. "I think I'll go downstairs. Owl me if you need anything." Hermione mocked, grinning. Hermione walked out of the room and was heading down the stairs when she ran into Mrs. Weasley, and she was in an absolute frenzy.

"Hermione, dear, do you know when Harry is supposed to arrive?" She asked, practically on top of Hermione.

"Um, no, but I think Ron might." Hermione replied, mildly frightened by Mrs. Weasley's current state.

"Could you go ask him for me, dear? I need to make sure Ginny's ready." She asked hastily.

"Of course." Hermione turned around and headed towards Ron's room. As she was walking away Mrs. Weasley added "and could you make sure he's ready and send him outside?"

When Hermione finally reached Ron's room, she knocked on the door. She heard the shuffling of parchment and things falling on the floor before she heard a voice.

"Bloody hell Harry, it's about time you-," Ron stopped when he opened the door wearing only his trousers and an unbuttoned dress shirt to find a petite young woman standing at his door beautifully dressed. "Blimey," he muttered under his breath. He stood there, mouth agape, for a moment. When he regained his composure, he asked "Where's Harry?"

"That's what I was sent to ask you," Hermione replied, blushing. "Your mum wants to know if you know what time he was supposed to be here."

"He didn't say, he just wrote that he would be here for the wedding," he paused, "and that he hates being in that big house with no one but that bloody woman screaming and that stupid house elf muttering things under his breath," Ron concluded.

Hermione glared at Ron. Then, she remembered Mrs. Weasley's other request. "Your mum also wants to know if you're ready," She surveyed Ron. "Apparently not," She added blushing slightly, seeing Ron's current state of dress.

Apparently, Ron realized it too, because he suddenly went scarlet. "Yeah, I probably should..."

"... Yeah," Hermione finished. Ron closed the door and Hermione turned to go downstairs. "I wouldn't mind being part of this family if I got to see that everyday," she conceded, mumbling to herself. She looked up and found Ginny standing there staring at her.

"What was that?" Ginny asked

"Nothing." Hermione said quickly. Ginny eyed her questioningly, but decided not to bother with it, there would undoubtably be plenty of time to talk about that later.

When they got outside, the yard was already swarming with guests. The yard was beautifully decorated. Red and pink everywhere. Tons of roses, heart-shaped chocolates, and loads of candles floating about. There was a beautiful duo, an enchanted flute and harp, playing soft background music as people were being seated. Hermione and Ginny were absolutely in shock, until they heard two familiar voices behind them.

"Well, look what we have here, George. Two lovely ladies wandering around alone." Fred observed.

"Quite right, they seem to be missing escorts. May I inquire as to why?" George asked.

"Sod off, you two," Ginny said forcefully.

"Oh, that's why." Fred and George laughed. Hermione grinned. Ginny went to join Gabrielle and Fleur

"Well, Ron's half dressed, and Harry's not even here yet." Hermione answered.

"Then who's that handsome lad sitting next to Mum?" Fred asked, pointing at the raven-haired boy sitting in the front row. Hermione took Fred's arm as George hurried to escort one of Fleur's relatives, a young woman who was undoubtably a veela.

"Sly Bugger," Fred mutter.

"Thanks," Hermione said, looking up at Fred with smile. Fred shrugged, also grinning as he escorted her to Harry's row. It was the first anyone had seen of him since Ron and Hermione went with him to the Dursley's, then leaving him at number twelve Grimmauld Place. He looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep in weeks. And who could blame him? However, his face seemed to light up when he saw Hermione. She sat next to him and gave him a hug.

"Sorry I got here so late." Harry apologized jovially. Hermione smiled. Suddenly something crashed on the other side of her. It was Ron, who had apparently hurried getting dressed and made a mad dash down the stairs and sprinted to his seat.

"Hello, Harry," Ron greeted, gasping for breath. Hermione tried not to look too upset about Ron getting dressed at the last minute and still not trying to tame that unruly mane of his. She failed miserably.

"Running late, are we?" Hermione asked. Ron glared at her, ready to start an argument that was bound to disrupt the entire ceremony.

"Later, you two," Harry whispered, knowing what was brewing. They turned their attention to the ceremony, which had begun. They watched the prologue to the proceedings: the flower girls, ring bearers, the bridesmaids, etc. Harry starred after Ginny longingly. She met his eyes and smiled. Soon the Bride's March began to play and Fleur, escorted by her father, gracefully glided down the aisle. She was absolutely beautiful. Once Fleur had made it too the front and took her place beside Bill, Hermione looked over at Ron, who was completely mesmerized by Fleur. Hermione gave him a forceful elbow in the stomach. He was plunged back to reality, sitting next to a now-scowling Hermione.

"Try to keep from drooling," Hermione hissed contemptibly. Ron simply rolled his eyes and once again watched the proceedings. Hermione couldn't help but be a little jealous of the way he was awestruck when he saw her. She tried to take her mind off of Fleur and Ron, and looked over at Harry. He had his eyes fixed not on the blushing bride, but on the blushing bridesmaid. Hermione watched Ginny periodically glance at Harry, blush, then turn back to the ceremony. She watched Bill and Fleur exchange vows before she looked back over at Ron who was no longer studying Fleur, but rather, seemed to be staring at her. Once their eyes met, however, Ron eyes quickly darted back to the front. Hermione felt a rush of curiosity and a hint of satisfaction wash over her. She couldn't figure out why he would be looking at her. Her mind immediately went back to the awkward moment in Ron's doorway. Her face was instantly flushed with the same shade of red Ron's had previously been doused in. She focused her attention back to the ceremony just as they announced Mr. and Mrs. Bill Weasley.


A/N: Emma-Lynn, EruditeWitch, and angelcala: Thanks so much for the positive feedback! It's nice to get that kind of a response after being gone so long. Next chapter's comin up in a flash.