A/N: I apologize to those who were hoping that I would spare Fred. I was really trying to stay as close to real events as possible. This is the last chapter of my fanfiction, but I promise an epilogue. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you again for your support!
Chapter Seventeen
Ginny woke up on the day of Ron and Hermione's wedding and did not feel at all like herself. There was a lack of reassurance that made her feel uneasy. Like the ground beneath her feet had suddenly become unstable. She knew that she wasn't the one saying "I do" today, but it definitely made her think about her own upcoming commitment.
She slipped into her maid of honor dress, which was knee-length with a sweetheart style bodice. The deep purple went exceptionally well with her fair complexion and auburn hair. She styled her hair as Hermione had directed; half up in an elegant knot, and the rest was curled and cascading down to her shoulders. Make-up was done, again, according to Hermione's specifications. Subtle violet eye shadow and soft pink lip gloss.
Ginny performed an Everlast Charm to ensure that her make-up wouldn't fade and her hair wouldn't go limp. As soon as she had finished this, a knock came on the front door. Ginny smiled when she saw Teddy with Andromeda on the porch. He had a cold, and Andromeda decided not to take him to the ceremony. But the reception was going to be held in Ginny's picturesque backyard, so Andromeda was going to wait there with Ted.
"Hey, Teddy Bear!" Ginny exclaimed dropping to her knees to hug her godson. "How are you feeling?" Ted sniffled noisily and wiped his nose on his sleeve.
"Use a tissue, for God's sake, Teddy!" Andromeda exclaimed, pushing a Kleenex into his hand. Ginny smiled and ruffled his now orange hair.
"Aunt Ginny, you look like a princess," Ted said with an expression of awe.
"Thank you, Teddy! Would you like to be my knight in shining armor?" She asked with a smile. Ted nodded eagerly and sneezed.
"Go lie down on the couch, Sir Sneeze-a-lot," Andromeda said briskly. "Aunt Ginny has to finish getting ready." She turned to Ginny with a smile. "It's really very nice of you to host the reception, dear. I always wanted Tonks to throw parties here. Such a gorgeous landscape."
"Yes, it's breathtaking. And I'm happy to help. Hermione is one of my oldest friends and Ron is my brother."
"You're such a sweet girl, Ginny. Harry is a lucky man," Andromeda commented. Ginny frowned for a split second before catching it and replacing it with a smile.
"Thank you, Andromeda."
"Well, my goodness, dear. You had better be off. I'll start setting up here."
"You really don't have to," Ginny began to say but Andromeda held up a hand.
"I want to, Ginny. Now you go ahead. Give my best to your brother." Ginny nodded and promptly apparated away to the small church Hermione had selected. She made her way back into the room where the bride would be arriving at any moment. She was the first to arrive, and she took a few moments to enjoy the solitude that would undoubtedly not last much longer.
An hour later, the same deserted church was filled with people. The bridesmaids had arrived and were being observed for last minute alterations. Bill and Fleur's little daughter, Emily, was given her basket of rose petals to hold until the procession began. Ginny hurried over to Harry, who had just arrived late, and straightened his tie.
"Would it kill you to get out of bed on time for your best friend's wedding?" Ginny hissed testily as she untied his neckwear, finding the damage to be too great to fix without untying it. Harry rolled his eyes.
"You're turning into your mother, Ginevra."
"I am not. And what have I told you about calling me Ginevra?" Ginny asked through clenched teeth.
"I'm due on the altar now," Harry said, changing the subject entirely. Ginny sighed and watched him walk away, feeling the weight of her mistakes pressing ominously on her shoulders. But she had very little time to consider it because it was time to order the procession into line.
While everyone was assembling themselves, Ginny went and knocked on Hermione's door.
"Hermione, are you ready?" Ginny called.
"Gin, can you just come in h ere for a second?" Hermione's voice replied. Ginny's stomach churned nervously. This was bound to be the moment when she had to comfort a hyperventilating bride, suddenly unsure of her decision to get married. Ginny braced herself for the worst and entered the room.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked carefully. To her surprise, Hermione looked perfectly happy and content. Her smile was radiant, and her overall cheery disposition made her appear to be glowing.
"Absolutely nothing!" She chirped happily. "I just need help buckling my shoes." She smiled bashfully and lifted her poofy ball gown-style dress to show Ginny her unfastened shoes. Ginny laughed and shook her head.
"You couldn't use magic?"
"The skirt was too big. I didn't have a clear shot, and I didn't want to risk ruining the dress," Hermione explained. Ginny pulled out her wand and buckled the bride's sandals.
"There. You're all set. And Hermione, you make a beautiful bride."
"Thanks, Ginny," Hermione beamed.
In the next moment, Ginny was walking down the aisle in front of the moderately sized congregation. Her mother had tears in her eyes, and Bill gave her a subtle thumbs-up. Ginny took her place on the altar across from Harry and turned to watch Hermione's entrance.
Ginny saw the look on Ron's face when he saw Hermione, and she felt a brief stab of jealousy. Harry had never looked at Ginny like that. Not even close. There had always been some hint of lust or desire that ruined the effect. The way Ron was looking at Hermione now was the way Draco had looked at Ginny every time from the very first moment he had fallen in love with her. It was a look of wanting, of needing. Not just for sexual satisfaction, but for everything she represented: surprise breakfasts in bed, a warm smile at the end of a tough day, drinking tea on the porch swing on cool autumn nights.
These were the things that mattered.
Ginny glanced over at Harry, who was stifling a yawn behind his hand. She turned back to Hermione, who was handing her the bouquet so she could join hands with Ron. Ginny accepted it and sighed, feeling a strange combination of happiness and foreboding.
--
By the time Draco had cleaned himself up and mustered the courage to face Ginny again, it was eleven o'clock. He was certain that she would be at home, but he was less certain that she would be alone. He prayed that Harry wouldn't be there as he apparated to Ginny's house.
When no one answered the door immediately, Draco started to get concerned. Then he heard footsteps approaching and his heart began to race. When he saw Andromeda, whom he had only met a few times while staying with Remus and Tonks, he thought perhaps he had gone mad, and Ginny had never lived there.
"Uh…hi," he said awkwardly. "You probably don't remember me-"
"Draco Malfoy! My dear, Ginny talked about you all the time! And Remus always spoke very fondly of you. Everyone thought you had died," Andromeda said solemnly.
"Yeah…change of plans," Draco said with a smile. "I'm looking for Ginny. Is she here? It's urgent."
"Ginny? My dear boy, she's probably up on the altar by now," Andromeda replied. Draco froze in horror.
"Altar?"
"Yes, dear. She left for the wedding hours ago."
"Wedding?" Draco exclaimed in alarm. "Where?"
"St. Benedict's. Is something wrong, Draco?"
"I've got to go. Thank you so much for your help," Draco said gratefully, before apparating to the church.
Perhaps Ginny had decided to move up the wedding. Maybe it was her way of suppressing the past. He didn't know. All he knew was that he had to stop that wedding.
--
Ginny couldn't have pictured a more beautiful wedding service. Everything was going smoothly; the readings were beautiful, the songs were lovely, and there was scarcely a dry eye in the house.
Hermione was opening her mouth to say "I do" when the doors slammed open noisily. The following events occurred simultaneously, amounting overall to about three seconds. Ginny yelped and nearly dropped her bouquet as the sound echoed throughout the cathedral like thunder. Ginny, as well as the entire congregation, turned to see who was causing the disturbance. Then the culprit spoke loudly,
"Stop! You can't marry him! I love you!" Ginny's heart flip flopped in her chest at the recognition of Draco's voice. When Ron saw Draco, he paled immediately and looked at Hermione.
"Mione, what's he talking about?" He asked quietly. Hermione looked positively horrified.
"Ron, I swear, I have no idea."
"You're too late to object to this union of Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, sir," the priest announced. "Now, would you kindly excuse yourself so I can finish the ceremony?" Now it was Draco's turn to look shocked.
"Weasley and Granger?" He questioned in confusion. "But I thought…" Draco trailed off. His eyes slowly scanned across the church until they rested on Ginny. "Ginny." Every eye in the church focused on Ginny. She felt her face flushing with embarrassment.
"What does my sister have to do with anything?" Ron demanded testily.
"Oh, God," Ginny whispered.
"I have no objections to your marriage, Weasley. But I do have objections to Ginny marrying Potter," Draco clarified, starting down the aisle.
"Why is that?" Harry snapped, moving towards Ginny.
"Because you're a first class prat," Draco offered casually. "And because I'm in love with her." Ginny was afraid to look at Harry, Ron, or Hermione. She could feel all of them staring at her with accusing glares, and she just wanted to be anywhere else.
"Ginny, say something! He's gone mad!" Ron shouted. Ginny sighed and took a deep breath. She took a few steps toward Draco and stopped.
"Draco, what are you doing here?" She asked quietly, conscious of the audience before them.
"Draco? You're calling him Draco now?" Harry exploded. "Ginny, what the hell is going on?"
"I went to your house, Ginny. Andromeda said you were at the church, and I thought you were the one getting married. I couldn't let it happen."
"Ginevra Weasley, answer me!" Harry thundered. Ginny rounded on him.
"Harry, please calm down," she said, trying very hard to remain calm herself. "Hermione, I'm so sorry about this. It was an honest mistake. Draco, this is not the time or the place to talk about us."
"Us?" Harry asked, his voice rising again. "Are you trying to say that there's some truth to this bollocks he's been spouting?"
"Harry, please," Hermione stepped in cautiously.
"What makes you think you can have a girl like Ginny Weasley, huh? You're a worthless piece of shit with nothing to offer but an infamous name and a bad reputation," Harry continued, ignoring Hermione entirely. Draco bristled.
"You don't treat her right, Potter. She deserves better."
"I treat her just fine! And are you suggesting that you would be a better candidate?" Harry retorted savagely. Draco raised his eyebrows indignantly.
"You don't think so?"
"Perhaps we should ask Ginny what she thinks," Harry suggested to Ginny's horror. Draco glanced at her apologetically. He had never intended to put Ginny on the spot.
"Don't do this to her," Draco said quietly.
"Harry," Ginny pleaded, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Well, go on, Ginny. Tell him who you're really in love with." Ginny stood where she was, directly in between the two men vying for her heart. She looked back and forth between them, feeling her panic increase with every moment. Finally, it became too much for her, and she left the altar, half-running down the aisle. The whispers and murmurs of the congregation seemed amplified in Ginny's head as she fought to keep from bursting into tears in front of everyone.
"See what you've done, Malfoy? You've ruined everything," Harry hissed. Draco narrowed his eyes.
"I had nearly forgotten how much I hated your whining, Potter," Draco replied quietly. Then he turned to Ron and Hermione. "I really am sorry for ruining your ceremony. It was a misunderstanding, and I hope you won't murder me later in my sleep." Ron looked furious, but Hermione looked sad. Not because of her disrupted wedding, but because of the scene that had just taken place before her eyes. So many things were beginning to make sense if what Draco was hinting at was true. Ginny was in love with Draco Malfoy.
With a final nod, Draco turned and hurried back down the aisle in search of Ginny. Harry glared and didn't take his eyes off of Draco even when he muttered,
"Ron, finish the ceremony. I'll go settle this." Before anyone could protest, Harry was rushing down the aisle after Draco and Ginny.
Draco caught up with Ginny as she was hurrying down the steps outside the chapel. He grabbed her by the arm and forced her to face him.
"Ginny, I'm so sorry. I never meant for it to happen like this."
"What did you think would happen, Draco? Did you think that Harry was just going to let you walk away with me, unscathed?"
"Ginny, I love you. I know you love me too. You can't keep living this lie," Draco said quickly. A tear streaked down Ginny's cheek.
"Draco, please," Ginny pleaded softly. Draco pulled her into a hug that she couldn't refuse. "I'm just so confused."
"Ginny, I think it's time you explained to your fiancé what the hell is going on," Harry said loudly, arriving at the top of the stairs. He was looking on at their embrace with an expression of deepest disgust. Draco tightened his grip on Ginny protectively.
"You're right, Harry, I do owe you an explanation," Ginny began bravely. "But I really think you need to calm down before I start."
"Oh, I'm calm. I'm calm," Harry insisted, folding his arms across his chest. "Explain away." Ginny sighed and shook her head.
"All right. Draco and I were seeing each other for awhile," she said slowly. Harry clenched his jaw. He was obviously trying to keep from lunging at Draco.
"When?" He demanded. Ginny squeezed Draco's shoulder gently, knowing that this was going to be the most difficult part. Draco could sense her fear and trepidation, and he desperately wanted to hold her forever and reassure her that she would be all right. But with Harry standing there, he didn't want to make things worse.
"Four years ago," Ginny replied steadily. Harry's eyes narrowed.
"Four years ago? You mean, when we were dating four years ago?"
"We weren't dating, Harry! You didn't want it to be official because you made a stupid promise to Ron! Draco was there for me when you never were!" Ginny exclaimed, her voice rising with every word. Harry's face reddened with anger.
"He was a Death Eater, Ginny! What were you thinking?"
"He was not a Death Eater!" Ginny shouted defensively. "He was a spy for the Order, and without Draco, we would have lost the war! You would have lost the war!" There was a long silence, during which Harry carefully examined both Draco and Ginny, as though he would find confirmation or deception written on their faces.
"I find that extremely difficult to believe," Harry finally said. Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes. She pulled out her wand and wordlessly summoned the letter from Remus, which was still at home in her desk. When it flew into her hand, she gave it to Harry.
"Read it," she said simply. Harry looked at her suspiciously. "Read it, Harry," Ginny repeated impatiently. Harry groaned and unfolded the letter. Draco looked questioningly at Ginny. He had no idea what was in it, but whatever it was, it wasn't making Harry happy. When he finished reading, he glanced up at Ginny.
"So…what, you're in love with this prat?" He asked savagely. Ginny bit her lip anxiously. "Where has he been for the past four years, huh? He hasn't been there for you for almost five years."
"Harry, I don't expect you to understand," Ginny said softly.
"Well, good, because I can't wrap my head around any of this," Harry retorted.
"I'm sorry to blindside you like this, Harry. I didn't think things would go this far."
"Ginny, I'm sick of all this arguing. Just tell me one thing," Harry said in a strained calm. "Where does this leave us?" Ginny looked up at Draco. He was just as eager as Harry to hear her response, but he had less bitterness in his eyes.
"I just want you to be happy, Ginny," Draco said, touching her cheek gently. "Do whatever is going to make you happy." Harry coughed sarcastically and cleared his throat. Ginny smiled weakly at Draco before turning back to Harry. She stepped out of Draco's arms and climbed the stairs toward Harry.
Harry had a very smug look on his face as she approached him. The smirk disappeared when Ginny slid the engagement ring off her finger and placed it in his hand. She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. Harry shook his head and turned his back on her. Ginny watched him disappear into the church before turning to look at Draco.
"I think that could have gone a little better," she said, shrugging a shoulder.
"It's all my fault," Draco said quickly. "I'm so sorry. I just couldn't let you marry him. I love you so much, and-" He was immediately silenced as Ginny's lips collided with his. After the initial shock of kissing her again, Draco wrapped his arms around her tightly and kissed her deeply. When they pulled apart, Ginny had tears running down her cheeks.
"Draco, I love you," she choked out. "I'm sorry I made you wait so long. I just didn't want to admit to myself that I was making a huge mistake with Harry, and I wanted to be mad at you for being gone for so long."
"Ginny," Draco grinned, shaking his head. "I don't care. I'm just glad you're here." Ginny smiled back and kissed him again.
"Ginny?" A timid voice asked from behind them. Ginny whirled around to see Hermione standing in the doorway.
"Hermione," Ginny said, hardly knowing where to begin. "I'm so sorry about your wedding. I-"
"I forgive you, Ginny," Hermione said with a small smile. "Both of you," she amended. "I don't know quite what's going on, or why. But I want you to know that I think if Draco is what your heart wants, you should have him."
"Thank you, Hermione," Ginny said softly.
"I also think you should know that there are a lot of people in the church who want to kill Draco on sight. Many of them are your brothers. So if I were you, I'd get out of here. And fast."
"But…the reception," Ginny pointed out. Hermione shook her head.
"This is more important, Ginny. Go. Let everyone cool down for awhile."
"I think it's a good idea, Gin," Draco said. Ginny hurried over to Hermione and gave her a crushing hug.
"You're the best friend I could ever ask for, Hermione," Ginny said gratefully.
"Thanks," Hermione smiled. "You'd better go." Ginny nodded and returned to Draco's arms. Hermione sighed and watched as they both apparated away. It wasn't exactly how she had pictured her wedding day, but the important thing was that she was now, and always, Mrs. Hermione Weasley.
--
Ginny yawned and rolled over. She flung her arm over Draco's bare chest and buried her face in his neck. He shifted to wrap his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. A warm breeze was trickling through the window behind their heads, caressing Ginny's naked skin with delicate tenderness.
"Morning, love," Draco said softly.
"Good morning," Ginny replied, kissing his neck.
"I dreamed about doing this for so many nights," he whispered with contentment.
"You've said that every morning for the past three days," Ginny pointed out with a smile. Draco grinned back and hugged her tighter.
"It never stops being true."
Suddenly, a faint knocking sound came from the sitting room. Ginny sat up. Draco frowned.
"Wonder who that could be," he mused. Ginny swung her legs over the side of the bed and reached for her robe.
"Shouldn't we find out?"
"Must we?" Draco complained, reaching for her. Ginny stood up before he could grab her and headed for the door.
"Don't move, darling. I'm coming back," she promised. Draco sighed but didn't protest any further. Ginny opened the door and was surprised to see Bill standing out in the hall.
"Bill? What are you doing here?" She asked in shock. Bill rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, noticing her obvious lack of clothing beneath her robe.
"Look, uh, Dad told me about the spy thing. Actually, he told everyone about it. I think he thought Ron was planning to kill Draco, so he kind of had to."
"Has everything calmed down yet?" Ginny asked. Bill sighed and shrugged.
"It's better than it was. I think our brothers are having a hard time accepting the fact that Draco was a war hero. And I think Ron is still trying to get past the way Draco used to treat him. You know how Ron can be," Bill said, rolling his eyes. Ginny laughed and nodded.
"Yeah, I do."
"Anyway, I just wanted to come and make sure you're all right."
"Aw, Bill. You're sweet."
"Yeah, well. You're my baby sister."
"I'm fine, Bill. I just miss everyone. I wish I could come home."
"You know you always can, Ginny," Bill reminded her. "But if it were me, I'd wait a few more days."
"Thanks. I think I will," Ginny agreed. Bill nodded and checked his watch.
"Well, I've got to go. Emily has an appointment with the Healers for a check-up in twenty minutes."
"I really appreciate you stopping by," Ginny said gratefully.
"Not a problem." Bill stepped forward and hugged her. He started to walk down the hall but Ginny poked her head out and called after him.
"Hey, Bill!"
"Yeah?"
"Why isn't it taking you so long to get used to the idea of me with Draco?" Bill gave her a lopsided smile and shrugged his shoulders.
"You love him. That's all there is to it."