The Wedding Day
Oh god! Oh god! I am getting married. I am getting married. Me married! Who would of thought? Not me. I am a complete wreck.
Let me paint a picture for you. I am sitting on a bed in my old room. Wearing nothing but some underwear, an old shirt, and a towel on my head. I am hyperventilating at an alarming rate. Hermione, her belly being shoved in to my head, is trying to say soothing crap to me.
"I need a smoke," I said taking Fred by the shirt.
"Ginny I don't-" Fred began.
"For the love of Merlin someone get me a fucking cigarette!" I bellowed. The twins scampered away clearly afraid I was going to flip out. I think I already am freaking out. I glanced over at my floor board. My hidden stash! Oh thank the lord for loose floor boards!
I flung myself on the floor and ripped it up. My hands met dust, pieces of paper, a poster, some romance novels my mother swore would be the death of me, and a packet of never been opened cigarette's.
I gave a whoop of glee and opened them. Alright slightly older than I would have wanted but I really needed this.
"You can not smoke!" Hermione scolded taking the cigarette right out of my hand. She was insane. I was going to kick her ass.
"Hermione, I have not had sex in six months, I am getting married in four hours, my stomach seems ready to spill my contents all over my rug, for the love of everything holy, give me the fucking cigarette!" I yelled. Hermione just blinked. Then she sat me down and something soothing. I really wasn't listening.
There was a knock on the door and I closed my eyes trying desperately to find some sort of Zen that was still hiding in my body.
"Who is it?" I snapped.
"Ron," Ron called from outside the door. "Harry is out here so can Ginny leave?"
"Where do you propose I go? Out the window?" I asked coldly.
"Would you?" Ron asked sounding as if all his problems had been solved.
"Why doesn't Harry leave?" I asked again. My nerves jumped at the mention of Harry.
"He needs to ask Hermione something," Ron said. I rolled my eyes.
"Well then why don't I just leave?" Hermione suggested heaving herself up.
"Jeez Ginny you're gonna let a pregnant woman get up?" Ron snarled.
"Ron I am really going to kick your ass the next time I see you," I barked.
"I love you," Harry called sounding like he was fighting to stay where he was.
"I love you too," I called hugging the door.
"Oh for the love of Merlin," Hermione said sounded disgusted though she looked pleased.
I hid behind the door when she opened it and was left in a room all by myself. I glanced around it trying to clearly identify all the feelings that were coursing through my body in electric waves.
There was utter hysteria, delirious happiness, panic, worry.
I wrung my hands and breathed deeply. I made my way over to the vanity and slipped on a pair of shorts that were lying on it. I sighed. These were my last hours as a single woman. After today there was no more of this sense of escape. I was here with Harry. And I wanted this more than anything.
I walked over to the dress that was hanging on my door. I didn't want to go for the traditional, down to the floor, white dress. It came down to my calves and flowed out like flower petals. It was a pure, white silk with spaghetti straps and sparkles all over it.
I made slight alterations to my mother's dress. I wore her dress after all. I am her only daughter and it was her wish that I wear her dress. So I did. Only I took the puffiness away and was left with a gorgeous dress. After I took out all the frill, I was left with a layer of silk. I kept that and was amazed by the bright white color, despite age. I ripped the sleeves off and made spaghetti straps with my mother's help. She had been overwhelmed when I told her that I would wear her dress. In fact she had been so over the moon that it made me feel guilty for refusing it first. I hemmed the length so that it came down to my calves and, with the help of my mother, had an empire waist that hugged my chest and flowed down the rest of the way to my calves. Mum had been really pleased with the way it looked.
I heard a knock on the door and turned to it.
"Come in," I called. Ron poked his head in and smiled at me.
"Hey. Wanna go for a walk?" Ron asked.
"Ron I'm getting married in four hours," I said laughing.
"I know," Ron said holding out his hand.
I laughed and took his hand.
"Where's Harry?" I asked cautiously looking around.
"Oh Hermione and he went into town to get some last minute decorations," Ron said smirking. "I just wanted to talk to you is all."
"Ah," I said nodding. I glanced at all the chairs being set up and felt another sweep of panic.
"Are you ok?" Ron asked soothingly.
"Yeah," I said my voice shaking.
"You still have that stupid towel on your head," Ron said pushing it. The towel fell over and I felt my hair tug to the left.
"Ow!" I said and playfully placed it back on top of my head. "What was really your motive?"
"Nothing," Ron answered and I didn't believe him.
"What is it?" I snapped more forcefully. I took his hands in mine and stared into his eyes.
"Do you want to go swimming?" Ron asked finally.
"No," I said giggling again.
"Your loss," Ron said shaking his head. I was still suspicious but didn't say anything. "We should get back. Mum is going to pop her nut if she finds you gone."
I winced at the thought and we both hurried back faster than was planned. As soon as I walked in the door there was a shriek.
"There you are!" mum cried latching onto my neck. "I thought you were gone!"
"I went for a walk!" I said trying to wrench her off of me. Mum was now sobbing uncontrollably.
"My baby is getting married!" mum wailed.
"I know. It's amazing," I muttered. Then the unexpected happened. I burst into tears. Like big baby tears that I haven't cried since Ron stuck a spatula down my throat because I was eating all the frosting.
Anyways, I was sobbing and my mother let another louder sob and I instantly fell into her warm hug. I have never cried. I think that it is a waste of time. Plus it is way to messy for my liking. But there I was crying like a loon.
"We're back," Hermione called obviously checking to make sure I wasn't down here.
"No!" the entire kitchen bellowed.
"Go to your room," George said leading me away from mum. I instantly latched onto him and began to cry into his chest. "Dammit!" he finally just picked me up and with the help of Fred and Percy, carried me to my room. There I still sobbed only until my mother followed me up. Then we held onto each other for another twenty minutes. I just sobbed crazily.
I sat on the bed another attack attacking me. My breathing became labored and I had to remind myself that if I didn't breathe, I was going to die. So I fanned myself for a minute before Hermione walked in. she had tears in her eyes.
"You missed it," I said as soon as she opened her mouth.
"Dammit!" Hermione said sitting next to me. "Married life is amazing."
"I hope so. For all this money it better be worth something," I joked.
"Everything is going to work out for you," Hermione whispered. "Like you said to me when I was freaking out."
"I'm not freaking out!" I cried throwing my hands up. "This is me calm without a cigarette!" I yelled pointedly. She just sniffed and didn't say anything.
"I'm sweating," Hermione commented.
"Me too," I answered frowning. "I think its just nerves with me."
"Nerves?" Hermione asked.
"Nerves, you know the things that freak you out," I said rolling my eyes.
"Right you're getting married today," Hermione said smiling.
"Thank you Captain Obvious," I said sarcastically. She pierced her lips and said no more.
"You know what I mean," Hermione said.
"Never," I said smiling. She gave me another look.
"You should get in your dress. Lavender and Parvati should be here soon," Hermione said helping me stand up. "You know how they get."
"I cant believe they're doing us another favor," I commented allowing Hermione to pull my dress off.
"Yeah well thanks to me they passed Potions," Hermione said dryly.
"My mother will want to be here for this," I said suddenly. Hermione nodded and opened the door.
"Molly!" Hermione bellowed.
"She lets you call her Molly?" I asked nodding. "She must like you."
"I should hope so!" Hermione said sharply.
"Calm yourself!" I warned.
Mum walked into the room and hugged me. She seemed more composed than I last saw her.
"Let me see my daughter in that gorgeous dress of hers," mum whispered as I slipped it on. I smiled and turned to my reflection.
"It's a gown," I whispered.
"Huh?" mum asked distracted with my hair.
"I am wearing a gown not a dress," I said smoothing it down.
"Technically it is a dress," Hermione piped up. I just turned back to her and smiled. She got the picture and stopped talking. I sighed again.
Another knock on the door made us all turn.
"Who is it?" I called.
"Harry," Harry said. My heart leapt and I gave a small cry.
"You need to go," Hermione commanded.
"I just need a minute with Ginny," Harry explained.
"You cant see her!" Hermione scolded.
"Alright then can you please step away for I can have a moment of privacy?" Harry snarled. Hermione rolled hey eyes and beckoned me forward. I placed my ear up to the door and could hear him breathing.
"Hey love," I said smiling.
"Hey. I love you," Harry said and I could feel his smile through the heavy wooden doors.
"I love you too," I said feeling tears well up in my eyes.
"I want to thank you for marrying me," Harry continued.
"I didn't," I said.
"Well I mean thank you for hanging in this long," Harry explained. "You even went and met my muggle family even though they are not the easiest people to get along with."
"I love you," I said simply.
"I love you too," Harry said. "I met your grandmother."
I groaned. "And you still want to marry me?"
"Of course. She amused me," Harry said.
"Did she show you her cane?" I asked.
"Yes. She even let me hit Fred and George with it a couple of times. I can see a very mean prank aimed at me within the next month," Harry warned. I laughed again and pushed myself as close to the door as I could get.
"Is your family here?" I asked.
"Yeah," Harry said. "My aunt wants to talk to you. Is that ok?"
"Sure," I said hiding my shock. "You need to be far away before Hermione will even open the door."
Harry chuckled. "She'll be up soon."
I stood up and instantly felt hands smoothing the dress down my backside.
"Hey Mione?" I asked as she continued to smooth it down.
"Yeah?" she asked as she turned me around and smoothed the dress.
"We're not on a date," I said. She took her hands off of my dress and scowled.
"I know. I am just trying to be useful," Hermione said and sat down on the floor.
There was another knock on the door.
"Harry go away!" Hermione bellowed.
"It's Mrs. Dursley," Petunia said. I jumped up and threw the door open. Hermione stared at the woman as she entered. Mum narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"Hello," mum said not exactly coldly but close to it. I gave her a warning glance and introduced her.
"Mum, Mione this is Petunia. Petunia, my mother Molly and my maid of honor Hermione," I said warmly.
"Right I heard all about you," Petunia said smiling. Mum and Hermione looked confused. I was pretty sure I held the same expression. "Harry and I have been in touch for six years or so."
"Oh," I said smiling. "I get it."
"Well do sit down," mum said more kindly. Petunia sat down and smiled awkwardly at mum and Mione.
"You have a lovely home," Petunia commented. "Much more homey."
Mum beamed. "Thank you Petunia."
Petunia smiled and glanced at Hermione, who cleared her throat looking for something to say.
"You grew up in London?" Petunia asked smiling.
"Yes I did," Hermione said happy to have something to talk about.
"So did I," Petunia said smiling. "We lived on Bryer street."
Hermione gasped. "That is like a mile from my house. You lived near the park!"
"Ginny do you think it would be possible to talk to you alone?" Petunia asked smiling.
"Sure," I said and watched as mum and Hermione walked out of the room. "What did you want to talk about?" I asked smiling.
"I could walk there," Petunia said smiling. " The park I mean. Lily and I went together all the time. Well then she get her letter and left."
I frowned. "Did you go when she was back on break?"
"No," Petunia said sadly. "She left and when she came back she was different. We didn't get along anymore. She thought it was funny to play jokes on me and I didn't find them so funny. See I really didn't like her being gone, some of the neighborhood kids started a rumor that Lily had been sent to an institution for the mentally challenged. Or they said that she died. I couldn't come out and say she was a witch so I just took all the strange looks and cold glares at school and at the market. My parents thought it was so amazing. See even though she was two years younger than me, she was the favorite. My parents thought that whatever Lily did was amazing. See I had to go through life knowing that no matter what I did, it was never enough. When I was in grade school I would get the lead in the play in hopes of getting my parents attention but it never worked. I remember one time in particular I studied and I worked really hard for the part. And I got it, I beat out the prettiest girl in school. But on opening night, after my father dropped me off, Lily got sick and they couldn't make it. I remember looking out into the audience at curtain call looking for them. Then on the day Lily got her letter, it was my birthday. My parents were all excited and completely forgot about me. She left and my parents still talked about her. It was Lily this and Lily that. I don't think they even remembered me.
"When I was nineteen I was at home and I got a call that my parents had been in an accident and that they were dead. Well, for the first time, I had to write to my sister and tell her that our parents were dead. I don't think I was that upset. See it seems really horrible for me to say that, but they were gone and it felt like they were never there to begin with. Lily had been distraught and insisted on staying with me to help me grieve. We got into an awful fight and I told her that HER parents were dead. We had no reason to stay together anymore. I gave her her money and dropped her off at the train station. I didn't speak to her for three years.
"The last time I saw my sister she told me that she thought she was going to die. She made me promise that I would take care of Harry if anything happened. I told her that she was crazy and that nothing was going to happen. But she took my hand and looked straight into my eyes and told me that no matter what happened I was to keep Harry safe. I realized right then and there that she was serious, she was going to die. I told her that I would keep him safe. We met in the park that day. We kissed and hugged and made plans we both knew we wouldn't be able to keep.
"About a month later Harry showed up on our doorstep. I wasn't really all that shocked. Grief seeped into me for not saying that I was sorry for hating her and just everything else on my mind. Vernon was not very happy about having to keep Harry here. I however told him that I had promised.
"I was angry at Lily for the longest time. See, to me, she just seemed to get into things she couldn't finish. Like she would bail out and leave me to clean up the pieces. She did it at home, and then left me all alone with parents who basically ignored me. Then she left me this baby to take care of, who I wanted nothing to do with. I didn't want her abnormality to come into my house. I remember the names kids called me, taunting me because they thought my sister was either crazy or dead. I hated not being normal my entire life and I vowed I would change that. I married Vernon because he gave me a sense of normality I had never felt. I don't even think I love him," Petunia said and gave a little laugh. "I wanted Harry out because I wanted Dudley to have the life that I never got. I thought that with Harry there, it would be like me all over again. So I think I ignored the fact that Harry was with us. I thought if I could wish it hard enough, my sister and her husband would show up and take the baby away. I never gave him the life he deserved because I was selfish. Every year I bought Harry a present and a cake and I would take him to his parents grave. I stopped doing that when he was seven, and instead just went alone. I didn't like to think that if my sister was just NORMAL she would still be alive.
"I know what I did was inexcusable and rotten. I hate myself for doing it. I just thought maybe I should explain to you before you deem me the evilest person on the planet," Petunia said sniffing. I found I had big tears in my eyes.
"Does Harry know this?" I gulped.
"No, I don't want to tarnish whatever vision of his mother he has," Petunia said. That was all I needed. I let out a sob and pulled her close to me.
"I want you to know that no one here will ever fully forgive you for what you did to Harry," I warned. Petunia merely nodded. "But the fact that you want Harry's memory preserved is worth points."
"I have more rotten stories of things that we did to each other," Petunia sighed.
"Like what?" I asked curiously.
"I braided her hair to her bedpost one Christmas, so that when I yelled PRESENTS she hopped up and had her hair violently tugged back," Petunia said smiling. "She also liked to tell me that she was going to do magic on me. I knew that she couldn't, but I played along for the longest time. I think the last time she tried that I said something like, 'I can do as much magic as you can this summer,'. She never tried it again," Petunia said smiling. "You are going to make Harry very happy. He deserves it."
I simply nodded. Tears were welling into my eyes. "Why did you put up with it?" I asked suddenly. My cheeks flamed and I wished that I hadn't said anything.
"I don't know. After a while I got used to it. I could sneak out and no one would notice I was gone. Mind you I didn't have anywhere to go. They didn't care what I did, who I dated, what my grades were. Some of my friends thought I had the coolest parents ever. Of course sometimes it hurt because I would work my ass, excuse my language, for a grade and it wouldn't do anything. I would get a vague, 'That's nice dear,' and that was it. No one even realized that I was hurting," Petunia said smiling slightly.
"What do you think it would be like if Lily was alive?" I asked again feeling like I was prying.
"I honestly don't even think I would be here. If she didn't come to me to tell me that she was dying, she would never have known where I was. We just wouldn't talk to each other anymore. It would have been that simple. I would have liked it better if she had lived. For Harry's sake," Petunia said heavily. "Well dear I have taken too much of your time. I think I shall leave you to your arrangements. But…here," Petunia said and handed me a box. It was labeled HOME VIDEOS.
"Where did you get these?" I breathed.
"Found them when I was cleaning out the attic," Petunia said smiling. "I'll see you downstairs."
Petunia opened the door to reveal mum, Mione, Lavender, Parvati, Ron, Fred, George, and dad. They all looked like they had heard every word of the story. It seemed like it had brought a tear to everyone's eye. My eyes however rolled and swatted my family so they could let Petunia through.
"George show Petunia to the backyard," I instructed.
"Come with us. Have you ever heard of Canary Creams?" Fred asked.
"No!" I bellowed. They turned back to me. "So help my Merlin if one of these people turn into an animal!"
"Alright lady keep your knickers on," George said scowling. I rolled my eyes again.
"Make-up and hair ladies," Lavender said pushing me into a chair.
Three Hours, Forty-Seven Minutes, Twenty-Eight Seconds (approx.) Later
Oh god! Thirteen minutes and I am going to be married. I can barely contain my excitement.
"Whoo-hoo!" I let out a whoop.
"Will you keep it down? People think you have a twitch," Ron muttered to me. I sighed and waited for Bill and Charlie to get in here. We wanted to have a sibling moment before I am the last person to get married.
Finally Bill and Charlie arrived looking flustered. "Did you see all the people out there?"
"No," I said peering around.
"Stop it," Ron said pulling me back. I gave a disgruntled sniff and looked at my brother's.
"Well?" I asked them.
"We present you with thirteen thousand galleons," Bill announced taking out a minimized bag of gold. I gaped at it.
"Thirteen thousand?" I said hoarsely. "Who bet all that money?"
"Lots of people," Fred answered simply. "There was even more interest when you guys found the clause to early. We were sure you would find it later than that. But seeing as you found it in like February, it gave us five more months of you not having sex."
"Oh, I see," I said taking it from Bill.
"Where are you gonna put it?" George asked.
"My bra," I answered slipping it into my cleavage.
"Nice," Ron said. "Its like a bonus surprise. Not only do you get to see my boobs, I also have thirteen galleons waiting for you inside," Ron said with a cheeky smile.
I swatted at him and then let a comfortable silence float into the room.
"I am getting married in ten minutes," I said smiling. "I will pay someone thirteen thousand galleons for a smoke," I said seriously.
All six of my brothers searched their pockets for a cigarette. "Nope," Bill said.
"You all suck," I said sitting back in my seat.
"Ginny?" Hermione knocked on the door. I smiled at her. "We need you guys to go downstairs."
"Ok," Charlie said. "Bye babe," Charlie kissed my head and left.
I shifted nervously on my seat with Ron and Hermione watching me.
"Where's Harry?" I asked Ron. He closed his eyes in horror.
"Crap," Ron muttered and ran from the room. He returned a minute later. "Its alright. He's talking to my dad." I relaxed instantly.
"Do you guys want to have a moment?" I asked getting ready to leave. It was always the three of them.
"No we already had it," Hermione said patting my hand. "Soon it will be you with us."
"Yeah," I said not saying it should be already. Whatever.
Mum poked her head in. "Ron? Harry says it's time."
Ron and Hermione stood up. My stomach clenched and I panicked.
"Now's the time to bail," Ron warned. I slapped him in the arm.
"Not helping," I muttered.
I glanced at Ron in his crisp black tux. He looked so neat and un-Ron like. Then there was Hermione in her blue, empire wasted dress. It had a gauzy bottom that flowed right over her bump.
"Ginny?" dad asked me.
"I'm ready," I said as Ron left. Hermione stood in front of me and walked down the aisle with Ron. I gripped onto my father's arm tightly.
"Did I ever tell you that when your mom was pregnant with you, everyone thought she was having a boy? Well she was the only one who firmly believed that you were a girl. I'm really happy we had you Ginny. You have made us so proud," dad said tearing up. I gave a small sob and kissed his cheek. "And some things that haven't made us so proud." I stopped crying and gave him a small smile.
The music started and I sighed happily. This was my happy ending. Someone opened the big doors for us and I began to walk out with my father. Harry stood there waiting for me. That was when I knew that he would always be there for me. No matter what. I was crazy and he loved it. I freaked out and he loved it. I am so loud and obnoxious and he loves it. He leaves the toilet seat up and I still love him. He sings muggle songs in the shower and I love him. I love him even though he leaves his towel hanging over my chair. I love him even though he'll drink all the milk except for a drop, and then put it back into the fridge.
It didn't matter because I loved all his faults and he felt the same way. I held onto my father less and less as we neared the podium where Harry was waiting for me. I gave him a reassuring smile and kissed my father goodbye.
This was where I belonged. Everything fit and was so remarkably perfect. I couldn't wait to start the rest of my life.
A/N Not the ending! This is not the end of the story! It is like late and I have to get off the computer because my fingers are like being retarded and typing wrong letters. Please read and review. Thank you.